Albania, Kosovo Investigation started on child exploitation and trafficking between Albania and Kosovo

Project : MARIO 15 Aug 2010 | child exploitation child trafficking transnational

Prishtina, Kosovo – During the month of July an investigation related to Child Exploitation and Trafficking between Kosovo and Albania has been organized in the frame of Mario Project activities. The investigation was conducted by a mixed team composed by one social worker from Tdh Kosovo, one case management specialist from Tdh Albania, and a social worker from Save the Children in Albania. The investigation has been conducted in the main towns in Kosovo: Pristine, Peja, Prizren, Ferizaj, Gjakova and Gjilan.

The investigation had two main objectives: To analyse the situation of children from Albania and evaluate the level of potential exploitation in Kosovo, and to elaborate possible transnational collaboration between child protection stakeholders across borders whenever necessary.

The first week of investigation concerned mainly with street work and observation in order to identify and observe cases of children coming from Albania to Kosovo for begging. The team came in contact and discussed with the identified children and their families. Based on the testimonies of the children and their families, the conclusion has been drawn that children were coming from Albania to Kosovo to beg because in Kosovo they can get more money than in Albania. They declared “we find here a better market”. They move between the two countries very often.

In Kosovo, the Law on Public Peace and Order states that “whoever in a public place asks for alms in an intrusive manner shall be punished for minor offence”. As regarding the statement of the judges of the Court for Minor Offences in Kosovo, they are obliged to give the decision to deport these cases and to forbid their entrance in Kosovo for a period of three years. However, Albanian children and their families most of the time come back to Kosovo legally or illegally.

During the second week of investigation, the team had meetings with the following institutions: Centers for Social Works, Anti Trafficking Police Unit and Community Police Unit, Judges from the Courts for Minor Offences, Boarder Police and the Albanian Embassy in Kosovo. These meetings aimed at helping to better understand how the institutions react towards the issue of children coming from Albania for begging to Kosovo, what are the gaps in the system and how they think the situation could be improved. All representatives of institutions mentioned below, agreed that it is a complicated issue and that the deportation is not a solution in the long run. These cases are being deported even for their illegally residence in Kosovo or for begging. Kosovar authorities think that situation could be improved with a better coordination between stakeholders of both countries to manage each specific case in the best interests of children and their families.

The investigation team is preparing the final investigation report that will be published in September. [DK]