CRCA Promotes Child Rights Media Awards

CRCA

26 September 2006

The Children�s Human Rights Center in Albania � CRCA, held in the premises of Hotel Tirana International a public ceremony to award three journalists with the Child Rights Media Award 2005, and to introduce the official opening of Child Rights Media Award 2006. The event was funded by Olof Palme International Center and SIDA Sweden.

"I'm very pleased that for the first time in the history of media in Albania we are awarding three journalists from printed and broadcast media in Albania for their work and coverage of children's issues in the country", said Altin Hazizaj, Director of CRCA.

The event was attended also by the Chairwomen of the Parliamentary Commission for Media and Education in the Albanian Parliament, Valentina Leskaj.

"I would like to thank the Children's Human Rights Centre of Albania�, said Leskaj to the participants, �for their work in Albania. CRCA during these years has become a major actor of the civil society in Albania and with their strength they have changed the way we think about children in the country. I also take the chance to congratulate the winners of the Child Rights Media Awards and ask them to keep writing more about children. As a chair of the Parliamentary Commission I know how difficult it is for journalists to keep their independence and to write about children. I encourage you to do more and you will have my full support."

The winners of the Child Rights Media Awards 2005 are: Holta Zhiti (TV Top Channel), Arben Muka (Radio Deutsche Welle), and Denisa Xhoga ( Daily Newspaper �Metropol�).

Child Rights Media Awards aim to raise awareness of printed and broadcast media in Albania for a better coverage of children�s rights and issues, establishing child-friendly space in media and improving the journalists ethics when covering children issues.

The participants in this ceremony included journalists, representatives of national and local authorities in Albania, NGO representatives and friends.