University of Helsinki
Dr Olga Kantokoski has returned to Finland in mid-October after the second phase of her fieldwork in the Balkans. She visited three Balkan countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
The fieldwork consisted of interviews with representatives of the mentioned countries’ ministries of justice and heads of prison administration, representatives of local NGOs involved in protection of prisoners’ rights, representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office and National Prevention Mechanism (NPM), the representatives of the local Council of Europe Field Offices who implement cooperation activities as well as both former and acting prison guards and social workers in prisons.
During her trip she visited several prisons. The research findings are significant and will benefit the further development of the research project.