Tirana, 13 December 2019 – A 10-year report on sexual crimes against children and women, the first of its kind in Albania, drafted by CRCA/ECPAT Albania, together with the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, analyzed data on sex crimes committed against children and women during the period 2008- 2018. The report includes a comparative analysis of the statistic on all reported sexual crimes against children and women. The data were collected thanks to cooperation with the National Police Authority, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ministry of Justice.
Studies have shown that 1 in 10 children in Albania are victims of sexual violence. The latest National Survey “Violence against Women and Girls in Albania” of UNDP and INSTAT, found that about 8.6% of girls and women have experienced sexual violence at least once in their lives.
The report “Sexual Crimes Against Children and Women in Albania”, reveals that 61% of victims of sexual crimes are children while only 39% are adults. Over 83% of victims of sex crimes are committed against girls below 18 years old.
“Today we seek a whole new approach towards violence and sexual crimes in Albania. All institutions, together with civil society, need to implement new measures for the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of all the victims of sexual violence. Victims should no longer be left alone forgotten, as the Report’s data tells us.” – said Altin Hazizaj, Executive Director of CRCA/ECPAT Albania.
The 10-year report shows a sad reality for the victims. Of 559 child victims of sexual crimes reported to the Police, only 88 reports have been pursued by the Prosecutor’s Office. The figures are very disturbing regarding the judgment of sex offenders. Of the 917 perpetrators reported by the National Police Authority, only 71% of them were persecuted, while the Courts sentenced only 44% of them. These figures are far below the average for prosecution and conviction of sex crimes in Europe.
Among the main recommendations proposed from the Report, are:
Create a joint unit between the police and prosecution, to investigate, prosecute and bring to trial every sexual crime against children in Albania.
Establish a National Register of Sexual Offenses in Albania.
Inform children from an incredibly young age, using the formal education system on about their bodily integrity, violence, and sexual harassment, and where to report.
On the same day, CRCA/ECPAT Albania launched the National Online Campaign “1-10 child victims of sexual violence! REPORT!”, rolling in Facebook, Instagram and Twitter during a one-month period.
For more information, contact:
CRCA / ECPAT Albania
Tel: +355 672075330
E-mail: crca@crca.al