Group photo of participants in the workshop “Reintegration of prisoners into working life” Algeria
How can prisoners be successfully reintegrated into working life after serving their sentences? German and Algerian experts addressed this question at a workshop with the Algerian prison authorities in Algiers. The participating speakers were unanimous in their view that the reintegration of former prisoners into working life, including preparation for release and transition management, based on the principles of the rule of law can significantly reduce the recidivism rate. In this context, the generally high recidivism rate among drug addicts in both countries and the need for social education and psychological services were also discussed.
Several years ago, IRZ carried out a successful tandem project with the Algerian prison authorities, which developed several manuals on the prison system in working groups. These manuals on admission procedures, individual rehabilitation plans for prisoners, and the training of prison staff are already being put into practice in the Algerian prison system. Of course, they were also used in this event and will be further developed as needed.
In addition to the legal basis for reintegration, the workshop focused on cooperation with external actors such as placement agencies, state employment offices, and industrial and agricultural enterprises. Algerian experts reported an increase in the number of vocational training courses completed in a dual training system in various workshops (carpentry, blacksmithing, textiles, printing, recycling/waste management). Of particular interest to the Algerian side were the targeted partnerships with industrial companies in the automotive industry mentioned by Kai Abraham, head of the women's prison in Berlin, which carry out some of their manufacturing processes directly in German prisons.
Finally, the German experts were given a practical insight into the El Kolaiya prison, located approximately 80 km from Algiers, where an employment agency conducted job application training and representatives of the forestry industry informed prisoners, in some cases in individual discussions, about the possibilities of microcredit for small businesses in forestry and beekeeping.
The German experts agreed that since the start of consultations on the prison system in Algeria, progress has been made in further professionalizing support measures for the reintegration of prisoners, and that processes have become more transparent overall and increasingly aligned with the principles of the rule of law.
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:
the treatment of detainees during the admission procedure in accordance with human rights
the creation of an individual prison plan and classification of inmates
previous experiences in cooperation with external actors and
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.
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.
