Albania Call for increased government support for Child Protection Units

Project : Albania 13 Feb 2012 | child exploitation child rights protection systems

Albania, January-February 2012: Since the first week of January a series of informal public fora have been organized nationwide on topics concerning children’s issues. Initiated by Child Protection Unit Workers in collaboration with Social Services’ Departments at the municipal level and with the support of Terre des hommes and its project partners. These gatherings aimed to increase the attention of state and local decision makers on matters related to child rights and protection. To date, over 200 concerned citizens, including parents, municipal government representatives from Police Directorates and Regional Anti-Trafficking Committees, Social Services, Public Health and Education Directorates and civil society organizations have been engaged in constructive debates.

A common and key message was highlighted so far by these fora, one which calls for an increased and proactive engagement of state and local actors towards improving the support provided to Child Protection Units. Serving as one of the few best practices of local preventative and protective measures for children victims of trafficking or those belonging to vulnerable groups at risk these Units and their Workers operate in difficult circumstances. Often they suffer the outcome of low Operating Municipal Budgets, the inefficient coordination amongst local service providers and actors and the unwillingness of some stakeholders including Education and Police directorates, to fully hold up to their responsibilities and duties to ensuring the protection and wellbeing of children. In some cases, they even lack adequate physical office space and environments and/or sufficient office supplies. These local government structures which provide services and support to some of the most vulnerable communities of the country are at times unable to sustain themselves and their work due to unavailable human, logistics and financial resources.

Other pressing issues discussed included matters of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence and its effects on a child’s life not only as a victim of abuse but also as a witness; the need for increased inter-agency cooperation in identifying and managing cases of children at risk of abuse and/or exploitation; the lack of established effective local services in support of especially children victims of exploitation for begging and work relate purposes and the lack of services such as daily centers, emergency protection shelters and alternative foster care for vulnerable children.

These fora will continue to run during the months of February, March and April and will focus on issues such as bullying in schools, ensuring a safe school environment, the importance of education and the implications of dropping out of school on children and society in general. For more information about an upcoming forum please contact one of our Regional Offices nearest to you or email us at info@tdhalbania.org.[FG]