Photo Credit: Kelly Cronen   A young boy in Elbasan takes a break from his lessons and after-school activities. BKTF’s 2008 Situational Report outlined ways the Government of Albania can support these centers that are on the front lines of fight against child trafficking and exploitation.

Report Finds More Needed to Fight Child Trafficking

New Report Finds More Needed to Fight Child Trafficking

TIRANA, 2 October 2008   “There is an urgent need to increase efforts to curb and prevent the phenomenon of child trafficking and protects children victims in Albania,” said Ms. Rajmonda Bozo, President of Albania’s coalition of NGOs BKTF (All Together against Child Trafficking) at its national conference held in early October.

In light of the latest sobering data from the organization’s report on child trafficking for 2007, leaders of Albania’s government, including the Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, and international donors gathered to discuss what needs to be done to fight this phenomenon.

The report finds that since 2003 there has not been a decrease in the number of trafficking victims, citing difficulties in identifying child victims and the inadequate assistance provided by the local and national institutions.

In response, Albania’s Vice-Minister of Interior Ms. Iva Zajmi presented the Government’s new National Strategy on fighting human trafficking for 2008-2010, that takes into account the need for coordinated action among all actors to implement the key objectives of the strategy.

U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers delivered remarks at the event supporting the contributions of civil society. “The way to ensure that these children are being identified and provided the necessary services is to ensure that the National Strategy is implemented and monitored in a pro-active and transparent manner in partnership with civil society.”

The publication is available at:
http://www.bktf-coalition.org/eng/Situational%20Analysis%20ENG.pdf 

About BKTF
BKTF is a coalition of 19 local and international organizations which operate in Albania in the fighting child trafficking. BKTF member provide legal, psychological and social assistance to the victims of trafficking and combining with preventive and awareness activities.  The USAID-funded TACT project (implemented by Terres des hommes) is the leading member of BKTF.

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