Albania Out of seven children, one is malnourished

January 1, 2001

Comment: This article describes a research study undertaken by UNICEF. Nevertheless, the article fails in providing accurate references to the study and lacks in even providing the readers with information on the title, year of publication and methodology of the study conducted by Unicef.

There is no analysis behind the conclusions which very often, as provided in this article seem superficial and ill-grounded. For example it can hardly be sustained without any arguments as done in this article, that rural areas in Albania lack tradition in child feeding and care. What is true is the fact also referred to in this article that the infrastructure and services existing in these areas are very poor. This is one of the reasons that many NGOs focus their activity in Albania in rural areas delivering directly services to the children or enhancing the capacities of the State structures.

However as mentioned in this article which refers to a registered figure of 700 children working only in the capital, children living in urban areas face serious difficulties too. Child labor and children in conflict with the law remain serious phenomena for Albania. In particular children working or begging in the streets of Albania are exposed to various risks and threats including sexual exploitation and trafficking. Despite the different initiatives undertaken by the Albanian governments during the last years (read also an article dating June), a coordinated system of child protection throughout the country is still lacking.

(This Press review is under the framework of EIDHR funded project, implemented jointly with the Legal Clinic for Minors, Albania)