Practical exchange on the German prison system
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- Published: July 17, 2026
Plötzensee, Lichtenberg, the open prison system: A high-level delegation from the Kosovar Prison Service visited various prisons across Berlin in early July 2026 as part of a study tour organised by IRZ. This was a targeted continuation of a dialogue that had begun in 2025 with the IRZ seminar ‘Dealing with and Protecting Vulnerable Groups in Custody’. The trip focused on practical insights into the German prison system, as well as discussions on protection standards, rehabilitation and cooperation between various stakeholders in the prison system.
Discussions on an equal footing
The delegation held expert discussions with representatives from Freie Hilfe Berlin e. V., the Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection, and various Berlin correctional institutions. Topics discussed included the treatment of vulnerable groups within the prison system, rehabilitation and treatment programmes, cooperation between the prison service and probation services, and transition management on the path to a life free from crime.
Three prisons, three perspectives
The study trip proved particularly valuable where theory met practice: at the Berlin Open Prison, the Berlin-Lichtenberg Women’s Prison and Plötzensee Prison. Three institutions with very different focuses – ranging from open to closed detention, and from mixed-gender to women-only approaches – and thus three opportunities to discuss tried-and-tested approaches directly on site and explore their applicability to the Kosovar context.
For the Kosovar delegation, this combination of discussions and insights into day-to-day prison life offered the chance to share their own experiences and reform plans, whilst at the same time gaining an understanding of various aspects of the German prison system. Particular emphasis was placed on the close cooperation between state and civil society actors, the wide range of rehabilitation programmes on offer, and the human rights-based approach to vulnerable groups and prisoners.
A model for Europe
The lasting impact of this visit was made clear by the head of the delegation, Ismail Dibrani, Director-General of the Kosovo Prison Service, in his closing remarks: “For the Kosovo Prison Service, this study visit was one of the most important ever. What we have seen over the past few days is a model – not only for us, but for the whole of Europe. One of the most important aspects was the cooperation with civil society and the respectful treatment of prisoners. We would like to implement these best practices in our country in future. Special thanks go to the German Government for its ongoing support of Kosovo throughout all stages of its development, and to the IRZ for organising and facilitating this extremely important study visit,” Dibrani continued.
IRZ will continue to support German-Kosovar cooperation in the field of the prison service and assist its partner institutions in further strengthening a prison system based on the rule of law and focused on rehabilitation.