International community urges improvements to justice system, fighting corruption

TIRANA, July 18 – The OSCE in Albania has been involved in a series of training and seminars with the local authorities in efforts to improve the justice system and fight its endemic corruption.
There are many projects compiled by the OSCE, EU and the United States in the justice system. One of them was used by the OSCE to train 30 probation officers and members of the General Directorate of the Probation Service. The training introduced the newly-developed Offender Assessment System for Juveniles and Young Adults and effective approaches to working with juvenile offenders. This assessment and related user manual was developed by a working group chaired by the OSCE in Albania.
The training was organized as part of a project by the OSCE to develop effective probation practices in Albania as the OSCE has played a key role in establishing the Probation Service in Albania, supporting this institution both through capacity-building activities, and helping it enhance co-operation with other institutions involved in alternatives to custody.
In another project, the OSCE offered support to the country’s national action plan 2014-17 to combat graft. The project was presented by Bledar ȵ詬 serving as Albania’s National Co-coordinator on Anti-corruption and the OSCE.
“Corruption hinders development. Public resources are diverted to the pockets of corrupt individuals instead of being used for investments in transport, energy, environment, health and education,” said OSCE Ambassador Florian Raunig.
The Albania’s government has pledged to fight corruption as one of the country’s efforts toward integration into the European Union and more.
ȵ詠said the plan is a product of fruitful co-operation between all institutions.
“This is just the beginning of a dynamic process. Now it is time for action, as all institutions should be at work to translate these commitments into tangible results that will affect visibly the lives of Albanian citizens,” the minister said.