Tirana, June 2, 2023 – Child Rights Centre Albania (CRCA/ECPAT Albania), presented today some of its main proposals for a better protection of children and adolescents from sexual crimes by the new Criminal Code, in a meeting with the Experts team for the preparation of the Code, directed by Prof. Arben Rakipi. The proposals include twelve main aspects, which focus on the compatibility of our criminal legislation with the international norms and with the EU Acquis for the protection of children from online and offline violence and sexual crimes.
In January 2023, the Ministry of Justice started work on the preparation of the new Criminal Code in Albania. During this time, several consultative meetings were held between institutions and organisations that work in the field of criminal legislation implementation to discuss specific chapters of the Code, to then proceed to the closing meetings at the expert level.
CRCA/ECPAT Albania has an extensive experience of contributing to the improvement of the legal framework related to children and young people, including the Criminal Code. In 2003, the CRCA proposed the inclusion of the sale of children in the Code, while in 2013 the CRCA’s proposals on the criminalization of physical violence, the definition of child pornography and exploitation of children in child labour were included in the Code. In relation to sexual crimes, the Parliament and MPs have been hesitant about further regulation, although CRCA since 2010 has sought the inclusion in the Code of new sexual crimes against children, especially online crimes.
The new Penal Code is a very good opportunity to criminalise all new offenses in the area of sexual crimes against children and adolescents, to offer them better protection. In this context, the proposals presented by CRCA/ECPAT Albania bring our new criminal legislation in line with that of the EU as well as all the recommendations of the Council of Europe and the UN.
For more information, contact:
CRCA/ECPAT Albania