CRCA Issues New Report on Child Labour and Street Children in Albania

CRCA

24 February 2006

The Children's Human Rights Centre of Albania � CRCA, a major child-rights organisation in the country, issued today its latest report on the situation of child labour and street children. This is the very first in-depth research-report published by a national organisation in Albania, on the situation of the rights of child labourers and street children in Albania. The research is funded by Palme Center and SIDA Sweden, as part of the programme 'The Rights of the Child a Democratic Right'.

"Today we have issued our report on child labour and street children in Albania�, said Altin Hazizaj, Director of CRCA and one of the authors of the research, �and I have to say that the situation is far more serious then previously thought by us. In the next few days we will make public our requests towards the Albanian authorities, especially Ministry of Labour, which for so many years has left without protection thousands of children throughout Albania, which have fallen victims of economical exploitation."

CRCA is one of the few organisations in Albania that works for the elimination of child labour and other forms of labour among children. The main interventions of CRCA on child labour and street children include: Children's Clubs, Public Campaign 'Stop Child Labour', policy and legislative improvement and capacity building for the authorities and NGO's to work for the elimination of child labour.

The research "Child Labour and Street Children in Albania" is a quantitative and qualitative one. The research brings to the intention of the Government several new concepts and definitions of child labour and street children for Albania. It analyses the issue of economical exploitation of children, the reasons why, and consequences of labour to children. Because of the lack of referral mechanisms, the research is focused also on the role that state authorities can play and how the referral mechanisms may work. Finally the report provides a list of conclusions and recommendations for the Albanian authorities and civil society.

The report at the present is available only in Albanian, and in the next few days will be released in English. It will be made available on line in both languages very soon. If you wish to receive an electronic version of this research-report contact with CRCA.

For more info, or to receive an electronic copy, please contact: Alma Kordoni (Maksutaj), Programme Coordinator 'Stop Child Labour in Albania'; Phone / Fax: + 355 4 242264; E-mail: almam@crca.org.al