Expert talks on the implementation of international standards in the Algerian penitentiary system

Dr. Stefan Cassone, Head of the Duisburg-Hamborn Correctional Facility, during his talk on the training of prison staff.
Dr. Stefan Cassone, Head of the Duisburg-Hamborn Correctional Facility, during his talk on the training of prison staff.
Algeria

IRZ, in cooperation with the Algerian prison authority, organised a conference on the "Implementation of international standards in the Algerian penitentiary system" in Algiers on 23-24 May, 2023. Approx. 30 Algerian officials participated from the penitentiary system and at a ministerial level.

Exchange of experiences between Algeria and Germany

The two-day event formed the sustainability phase of a tandem project funded by the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Justice. Algerian and German experts worked in groups in the project to develop a manual with recommendations for the Algerian penitentiary system. The experts met at the end of the project to report on their experiences in the practical implementation and to encourage the use of the manuals.

On the German side, Mr. Kai Abraham, Head of the Women’s Correctional Facility in Berlin and Dr. Stefan Cassone, Head of the Duisburg-Hamborn Correctional Facility participated the project, who had already been involved in the previous tandem project and made a significant contribution to its success.

To kick the event off, the Head of the Algerian Penitentiary Authority, Mr. Essaïd Zreb, addressed all the attendees and emphasised the value of cooperation and exchange between Germany and Algeria. The Algerian and German sides then gave an introduction to the legal framework and current legal practice in the prison sector.

Four main topics were discussed as detailed below:

  1. the treatment of detainees during the admission procedure in accordance with human rights
  2. the creation of an individual prison plan and classification of inmates
  3. previous experiences in cooperation with external actors and
  4. current developments in the training and further education of prison staff.

After the keynote speeches and field reports the participants exchanged ideas with the German experts. Many experiences were similar, particularly with respect to cooperation with external actors and the further training of prison staff. The involvement of external actors (e.g. religious and cultural bodies and educational institutions) played a crucial and irreplaceable role in terms of the reintegration of prisoners into society, and the participants emphasised the importance of reintegration into the labour market. Both sides highlighted the benefits of training prison staff in soft skills, e.g. communication skills and conflict management, using roleplay and simulations. Different approaches in Germany and Algeria – for example in the area of the classification of detainees – were discussed and assessed in depth.

Many local media also reported on the event and the outcome of the conference was publicised beyond the group of participants.

All the attendees expressed an interest in further intensive and practice-oriented work.

International human rights conventions in Algerian case law

Opening of the training “Practical application of international human rights conventions - human rights protection at the judicial level” held on 27 and 28 February 2023 in Algiers.
Opening of the training “Practical application of international human rights conventions - human rights protection at the judicial level” held on 27 and 28 February 2023 in Algiers.
Algeria

IRZ organised a training course in Algiers on 27 and 28 February 2023 with the local Ministry of Justice on the “Practical application of international human rights conventions - human rights protection at the judicial level”, attended by Algerian and German legal practitioners.

Promoting exchanges between Algeria and Germany

The measure was primarily for the judiciary and ministry officials. The aim was to enable expert exchanges on the importance of international human rights conventions and their implementation at national level and on the role of the judiciary in the protection of human rights. The purpose is to train the participants to take greater account of human rights standards in daily legal practice.

Mr. Ahmed Berrich, Judge of the Regional Directorate for Specialised Criminal Justice and Jonas Hein, LL.M., Advisor in the Department of Human Rights of the Federal Ministry of Justice began with an overview of the historical development of human rights and international human rights conventions. Following the introduction, Laalaa Chokri, Prosecutor at the Court of Boudouaou and Prof Dr Reinhard Gaier, former Federal Constitutional Judge, gave further presentations on procedures to anchor and implement human rights in the respective national case law. In addition to the specific features of human rights, the speakers also addressed current challenges, during which it became clear that the judiciary has a special role in protecting and further strengthening human rights in case law. These topics were highlighted in the presentations by Prof Dr Gaier and Said Abbes, Examining Magistrates at the Court of Tizi Ouzou. The participants and speakers also discussed legal-philosophical issues.

Practical and legal-philosophical issues on the protection of human rights

The participants explored the implementation of human rights in their legal practice and in the consideration of local specificities in case law that would be both effective and sensitive to human rights.

A total of 30 participants engaged in the discussions with the two German experts. IRZ is planning further events in cooperation with the Algerian Ministry of Justice.

Exchange of experience on the investment climate and investment protection in Algeria

Participants in the exchange of experience to promote the climate of investment and investment protection in Algeria on 8-9 November 2022.
Participants in the exchange of experience to promote the climate of investment and investment protection in Algeria on 8-9 November 2022.
Algeria

On 8-9 November 2022, IRZ, the Algerian Ministry of Justice and the national investment agency, engaged in an exchange of experiences to promote the investment climate and investment protection in Algeria.

The event aimed to present national and international law framework conditions for investments, but also bilateral agreements between Germany and Algeria. The participants then discussed the legal and judicial requirements to promote investment. The digitisation and modernisation of procedures and the resulting improved access to justice also played a specific role. Finally, the speakers presented judicial and extrajudicial guarantees for foreign investments, including international arbitration, mediation and commercial arbitration.

The experiences and perspectives from Algeria, Germany and Tunisia were presented by:

  • Ahmed Berishi, Head of the Research and Planning Department, responsible for major projects at the Algerian Ministry of Justice
  • Safia Kouirat, Head of Research and Expertise at the National Agency for Investment Promotion of Algeria
  • Jamal Abdali, Director of Bilateral Economic and Financial Relations at the Ministry of Finance
  • Qasi Abdullah Raouf, Research and Planning Officer at the Ministerial Office at the Ministry of Justice in Algeria
  • Ammar Gomri, Inspector General of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security
  • Fayza Jundi, Judge at the Maritime Judiciary Chamber in Blida District
  • Prof Dr Julian Scheu, LL.M., Junior Professor for public law, international law and international investment law and Managing Director of the International Investment Law Center Cologne (IILCC) at the University of Cologne
  • Dr Manuela F. Doughan, LL.M., Attorney and Senior Associate
  • Prof Dr Hatem Rouatbi, University Professor, Head of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Research Laboratory at the Tunis Faculty of Law and Attorney at the Tunisian Court of Cassation

The diverse target group (ministerial officials from the ministries of justice, economics and foreign affairs and judges), meant that the participants engaged in some lively and controversial discussions.