Under the theme “Sustainability and Justice” the 2026 European Symposium on Detention Houses brings together justice changemakers to confirm a shared commitment to building justice systems that are humane, inclusive, and sustainable.
The Symposium centres deprivation of liberty as part of Europe’s sustainability challenge, and calls for the implementation of detention houses as a sustainable replacement for large-scale prison institutions in Europe. Depriving someone of their liberty should always be a last resort. When it is necessary, deprivation of liberty happens in places that support responsibility, community connections, and personal growth.
Be a voice for change and join us in Tirana, Albania on 21–22 April 2026!
Bringing diverse voices together, we explore how detention houses offer a new perspective towards a sustainable justice system. Detention houses are small-scale, community‑integrated, and tailored to individual needs.
How do detention houses facilitate social inclusion, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? Through interactive dialogue sessions, we envision justice through the lens of sustainability - across the dimensions of People, Planet, and Prosperity - creating a bridge between policy, practice, and (lived) experience.
Together, we commit to a fairer, more humane justice system that reflects the needs and realities of today’s societies.
🔈 During the interactive dialogue sessions, several inspiring speakers will share their perspectives and “Ideas of Change”, including:
Angelica Vieira – Attorney; Lived Experience Consultant at Fair Trials Europe (Belgium)
Daniel Danglades – Deputy Head of the European and International Relations Unit, French Ministry of Justice – Prison and Probation Services; Vice President, CEP (France)
Helene De Vos – Director, RESCALED (Belgium)
Idil Aydinoglu – Regional Programme Manager, Penal Reform International Europe Programme (The Netherlands)
Hans Claus – Co-founder, vzw De Huizen; Board Member, RESCALED (Belgium)
Suzann Cordeiro – Architect and Professor, Federal University of Alagoas ; UNODC Consultant (Brazil)
Fionnuala Gordon – Head of Trauma Informed Communities in Secure Settings, One Small Thing (United Kingdom)
Olta Qejvani – Lecturer and Researcher, Aleksander Moisiu University; RESCALED Ambassador (Albania)
DAY 2 - 22 APRIL
🕑 09:30 - 17:00 CET
Day 2 translates the shared vision from the opening event into evidence, commitment, and action. Throughout the day, we identify what is needed - at local, national, and European levels - to implement detention houses as a real and lasting replacement for large-scale prison institutions. Inspiring keynotes, justice labs, artistic interludes and a closing panel on systemic change provide you with practical steps for change.
The Justice Labs focus on implementation; connecting vision to reality through policy direction, academic evidence, and inspirational practices. At registration, please select the Justice Lab that best aligns with your interests and/or expertise.
Mathilde Steenbergen – General Director, Belgian Prison Service (Belgium)
Mike Worthington – Director, People Architects (United Kingdom)
Jessica Vonderscher- Public Prosecutor at the Judicial Court of Belfort (France)
To conclude the day, participants are invited to an interactive exhibition offering space to reflect on the ideas, experiences, and insights shared throughout the symposium, while continuing the conversation and connecting with others.
#1000HOUSES
Support the shared European vision of replacing 100 prisons with 1000 detention houses, through 10 000 commitments for change by 2030.
During the 2024 European Symposium for Detention Houses, we planted the seeds for change. In 2026, changemakers leave Tirana with connected roots - grounded in a shared commitment and ready to grow into lasting impact.
The Commitment Forum, featuring the Wall of Intent, launches the #1000HOUSES campaign. This collective call to action aligns policies, practices, and partnerships to make this change real. Every commitment makes a difference, from individuals to organisations, from local citizens to justice experts.
Join us on 22 April and see your voice take shape on the rooftop of the Pyramid of Tirana.
Become one of the 10 000 voices for change!
📍The Pyramid, Tirana, Albania
The 2026 European Symposium on Detention Houses will take place at the Pyramid of Tirana, one of Albania’s most recognisable public buildings, located along the city’s main boulevard, just steps from the Prime Minister’s Office. Opened in 1988 as a museum dedicated to the communist leader Enver Hoxha, the building lost its original function after the fall of the communist regime in 1991 and was later used for various public activities. Following a major renovation completed in 2023, the Pyramid now functions as a cultural and educational hub for young people and community initiatives.
The transformation of the Pyramid, from a monument connected to Albania’s authoritarian past to an open civic space, provides a meaningful setting for discussions about how institutions and societies evolve, and how responsibility for justice should increasingly be rooted in local communities.
The Symposium is co-organised with the RESCALED Ambassador for Albania, Olta Qejvani. Albania is in a period of ongoing justice reform, shaped by efforts to strengthen the rule of law and to align national practices with European standards in the context of its European Union integration process. This creates a timely and relevant moment to reflect on how deprivation of liberty is understood and implemented.
Albania offers an important setting for engaging with the RESCALED vision and mission. Introducing and discussing detention houses supports constructive dialogue at both national and regional levels. The symposium provides a space for exchange, learning, and collaboration between European and Western Balkan actors, contributing to shared understanding, supporting reform processes, and strengthening connections across the region in line with a common European perspective on justice reform.
Ticket registration
What is included in the registration fee?
Participation in the event activities
Day 1 reception and walking dinner
Day 2 lunch and refreshments.
Hotel Accommodation
Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. To support your stay in Tirana, we have partnered with a dedicated hotel booking platform, offering a selection of recommended hotels near the symposium venue.
If you cancel your participation before the 20th of February 2026, you get a 70% refund of your registration fee. If you need to cancel after the 20th of February 2026, we unfortunately cannot refund the registration fee. You may transfer your registration to another participant without any cost up to March 31st, 2026.
The 2026 European Symposium on Detention Houses is co-organised with the FRAME project 'Frame for Realising, Assessing and Monitoring Small-Scale Detention in Europe'. It is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for them.
Date & Time
Apr 21, 2026 2:30 pm - Apr 22, 2026 5:00 pm
Venue Details
ESDH26
5 Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit Tiranë, Tirane (Tirana)
RESCALED
RESCALED proposes a fundamental shift from large-scale prison institutions to small-scale, differentiated, and community-integrated detention houses. Today’s prison systems are often rooted in outdated models that no longer align with contemporary legal standards, social realities, or ethical principles.
RESCALED is a European movement with more than 30 members across twenty countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In each of these countries, members, ambassadors, and partner organisations contribute in their own way to the implementation of detention houses. For more information, please visit www.rescaled.org
We are committed to creating a space where everyone feels safe, accepted, and respected, regardless of gender identity, skin colour, religion, ethnicity, or ability. We expect all participants to treat one another with respect and to contribute to an inclusive and constructive dialogue.
👉 To request additional inquiries about accessibility, inclusion or sustainability, please contact Noa Shoshan (noa.shoshan@rescaled.org).
