Albania: Successful Workshop on Child Abuse in the Family

CRCA

12 October 2006

The Children's Human Rights Centre of Albania - CRCA, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, General Directorate of State Police and the Council of Europe organised today successfully the National Workshop Child Abuse in the Albanian Family". The workshop was funded by the European Union.

The aim of the workshop was to sensitise the public institutions at central and local level, civil society, media and the public on the issue of child abuse in the family in Albania.

The workshop was organised in two parts. The first part was focused on presentations from Marjeta Zace - Vice Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities; Bajram Ibraj - General Director of the Directorate of State Police; Altin Hazizaj - Director of CRCA and Olsi Dekovi - Director of Information Office of Council of Europe in Albania.

Meanwhile the second part of the workshop was focused on the preparation of an Action Plan for actions and recommendations required by the Albanian Government and institutions, media and civil society in Albania.

Child abuse in the family is one of the worst forms of abuse of children's rights in Albania. Lack of appropriate legislation often let physical and emotional abuse, including negligence not penalised by the law enforcement agencies and justice system. Although many European countries have prohibited the use of physical and emotional abuse and negligence of children in the family, Albania is far from these standards, becoming one of the fewest countries in Europe not to have enacted such legislation or to punish the perpetrators of the abuse.

The workshop was focused on the work of the Albanian Government and its institutions, including the role of Police Authority, Social Services and civil society, to protect the children from abuse and neglect in the family.

More then 50 representatives of the Albanian Government, national and local public institutions, NGO's and foreign agencies based in Tirana participated at the workshop. The presentations of the workshop, a list of participants and the Action Plan will be sent to all participants and interested parties.