Social re-use of confiscated assets focus of OSCE training courses for civil society organizations in Albania and North Macedonia

Strengthening the involvement of civil society organizations in the social re-use of assets confiscated from organized crime was the focus of two OSCE training courses held, respectively, in Albania on 28 and 29 April 2021 and in North Macedonia on 17 and 18 May 2021.

The two-day courses were organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), with LIBERA, a civil society organization. The courses gathered representatives from eleven civil society organizations from Albania and eight from North Macedonia.

Participants learned how returning confiscated assets to communities can contribute to restoring confidence in the rule of law and hinder organized crime and corruption from thriving. They also explored ways that these assets can benefit societies through different forms of re-use, such as social enterprises, shelters for victims, agricultural co-operative companies, and social spaces for youth, among others. They also discussed the importance of raising civil society organizations’ awareness and building their capacities to closely collaborate with governments to effectively implement social re-use practices.

The training courses were supported through a TNTD/OCEEA extra-budgetary project, “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use,” which is funded by the United States Department of State, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.