Project on the field Albania

Developing a Child Protection Safety Net (CPSN) in Albania

CPSN builds on the previous Transnational Action Against Child Trafficking (TACT) project as response to change
Terre des hommes started implementing the TACT project in Albania in 2000 as a comprehensive response to the trafficking of Albanian children to Greece. This phenomenon saw a reduction over the last decade and despite lack of solid data and research, it has become common knowledge that various forms of internal child trafficking and exploitation have taken its place and continue to persist in Albania. In light of this new situation, Terre des hommes began implementing in October 2009 the ambitious project of DEVELOPING A CHILD PROTECTION SAFETY NET (CPSN) in Albania. This project is intended to run until April 2012. The CPSN project envisions a fully-functioning statutory child protection system and a local community committed to taking proactive child protection actions in order to protect children against all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, neglect and/or trafficking.

CPSN at central level
At the central level, the CPSN relies on a set of legislations, acts and policies that spell out the guiding principles, standards and tools for effective child protection in Albania. On 04 November 2010, the Albanian Parliament approved the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Children, which lays down the institutional framework for the establishment of the appropriate protection mechanisms that will guarantee and ensure respect for the rights of all Albanian children by the individual, the family, the state and/or other third party entities.

CPSN at local level
At the local grassroots level, the CPSN depends on the active role that local institutions and communities play in undertaking well-informed and appropriate child protection measures, be they from the municipal social services, schools, public health services, law enforcement agencies, community counseling groups, NGOs, social service providers, etc. It is expected that the recently approved Albanian law on child rights will significantly improve the child protection system in Albania by institutionalizing the Child Protection Units as the apposite local level structures responsible for coordinating the provision of child protection services and case management, in collaboration with a number of multi-disciplinary actors.

Child Protection Units at the heart of the CPSN
Child Protection Units (CPUs) are supported in Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokastra, Korça, Pogradec, Saranda and Vlora. The CPU is an office attached to the Directorate of Social Services and Economic Aid at the Municipal level in charge of coordinating and delivering child protection services and raising awareness and promoting child rights in the local community. Child Protection Workers work to identify abused, neglected, exploited and trafficked children and children at risk. They provide protection through case management, offering direct services and coordinating actions with other public and non public actors in the highest interest of the child. The CPU analyzes trends and produces reports on child protection issues in the community through the use of the case management database. In close cooperation with the Municipality, the CPU plans and organizes a number of awareness raising activities on child rights and child protection issues in the local community/municipality where it operates. Terre des hommes is committed to continue coordinating actions with other interested child protection stakeholders who are interested in replicating the CPU model in their own communities or municipalities.

Linking Schools to the CPSN
Schools have the obligation to set up the conditions for children to enjoy their rights and develop happily. It is within the school community where a child can develop protection mechanisms which strengthen his or her own well-being. Terre des hommes is assisting schools to be an active part of the child protection safety net at the local level ensuring early identification and referral. This is done through the provision of * child protection training and coaching for school psychologists and school directors*, of technical support to the Regional Directorates of Education, and assistance to schools through prevention activities and development of training tools.

Linking Communities to the CPSN
Communities, particularly Roma and Egyptian communities can play a key role in creating and maintain a safe environment for the most vulnerable children but also supporting a sustainable livelihood for their members. In partnership with Roma organizations, Terre des hommes supports the development of parental groups known otherwise as “Community Counseling Groups” which focus on providing counseling to vulnerable families, giving information on well-established child protection models and referring cases of children in need of protection to the municipal Child Protection Unit, the school or other relevant local structures.

Micro Initiatives: Offering families alternatives to child exploitation
Poverty hurts children and enabling poor families pursue alternative income-generating activities to child begging and exploitation ultimately improves the conditions for their children’s development. In order to stimulate the social and economical development of families in need, Terre des hommes supports a number of income-generating initiatives undertaken by the Common Actions Against Poverty, a local Albanian non-governmental organization targeting its efforts on the economic empowerment of disadvantaged families.

Advocacy
Terre des hommes lobbies and advocates at all levels jointly with the Albanian Coalition **All Together Against Child Trafficking (BKTF). The purpose of this coalition is to increase the effectiveness of interventions for the protection and promotion of child rights in Albania. The __BKTF Coalition**__ works to improve the Albanian legislation on child rights and child protection issues, monitor the implementation process of various child protection policies, and generate greater awareness and responsibility about child rights and child protection issue in the Albanian society.

Mario Project
Mario project, supported by the Oak Foundation, is a joint advocacy platform of 4 non-governmental child protection organizations aiming to ensure better protection for migrant children in Europe and lobby both the national and European level decision-makers into tackling child trafficking issues more efficiently. The project aims to align activities and methodologies of these 4 Ngos through regular exchange of information and experiences sharing. The ultimate goal is the long standing provision of better services to meet the needs of children at risk of exploitation and/or trafficking. Linking professionals from countries of origin, transit and destination will improve the services delivered to migrant children due to better understanding and knowledge of the context under which they migrate and are exploited.

MOVE Project
Thanks to a partnership with the UEFA for four years, Terre des hommes is also currently implementing MOVE – Psychosocial Development of Children through Games and Sport. The project aims to not only improve the well-being of children but also help prevention of child exploitation by increasing the psychosocial skills and competences of community-based animators, sport teachers, primary school teachers and Terre des hommes staff through specific training methodologies. A Training of Trainers methodology is also used in order to allow MOVE animators become trainers for their peers so as to reach a multiplying and sustainable effect. On an individual level, the MOVE psychosocial games enable children to reinforce their own personal and social capacities thus influence positive changes in their general well-being. On a larger level, these psychosocial games and activities support the reintegration of vulnerable children into their families, local communities and/or the school system.

Our donors
The implementation of the Terre des hommes CPSN project in Albania has been made possible through the generous contribution of our donors: UNICEF, the Austrian Development Cooperation, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, the OAK Foundation and the Medicor Foundation.

Contact:
Ms. Sendrine Constant – Delegate
Terre des hommes Delegation in Albania
Address: Rruga “Faik Konica”, Vila 19, Tirana, Albania,
Phone/Fax No: 00355 (0) 4 2 374 445