OSCE Mission welcomes opening of Serbia's first Prison Staff Academy
(OSCE)Justice Minister Zoran Stojkovic inspects the lines at the opening of a Training Centre at Nis Prison in Serbia and Montenegro, 7 September 2004. (OSCE) Photo details
NIS, 7 September 2004 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro welcomed the opening of the first Prison Staff Academy in Nis as an important step towards creating a modern and professional prison service in Serbia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the prison in Nis, Ambassador Maurizio Massari lauded the efforts of the Serbian Justice Ministry in pushing through important reforms and providing the new facilities.
"The opening of this prison training school demonstrates the government's commitment to creating a professional prison service which respects the rights of prisoners," he said.
Prison reform has been one of the OSCE Mission's priority areas since its establishment in 2001. Before then, prison staff had not received any formal training.
Initially, the Mission created the General Training for Prison Staff programme, under close to 500 prison guards have attended classes on Rule of Law, Effective Communications Skills, Human Rights Standards, drug identification and the use of force in the last two years.
The Mission then presented a Prison Training Action Plan to the Justice Ministry, which included the creation of a school for prison staff.
The Prison Staff Academy will have local trainers, who will use a training curriculum developed by international experts in collaboration with Serbian officials.
The OSCE Mission is also providing electronic equipment for use in the training activities.
Also present at the opening ceremony were 50 new recruits who will start their classes immediately. An additional 50 recruits will be trained this fall.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the prison in Nis, Ambassador Maurizio Massari lauded the efforts of the Serbian Justice Ministry in pushing through important reforms and providing the new facilities.
"The opening of this prison training school demonstrates the government's commitment to creating a professional prison service which respects the rights of prisoners," he said.
Prison reform has been one of the OSCE Mission's priority areas since its establishment in 2001. Before then, prison staff had not received any formal training.
Initially, the Mission created the General Training for Prison Staff programme, under close to 500 prison guards have attended classes on Rule of Law, Effective Communications Skills, Human Rights Standards, drug identification and the use of force in the last two years.
The Mission then presented a Prison Training Action Plan to the Justice Ministry, which included the creation of a school for prison staff.
The Prison Staff Academy will have local trainers, who will use a training curriculum developed by international experts in collaboration with Serbian officials.
The OSCE Mission is also providing electronic equipment for use in the training activities.
Also present at the opening ceremony were 50 new recruits who will start their classes immediately. An additional 50 recruits will be trained this fall.