Tirana, 22 July 2024 – The European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report on Albania has raised some serious concerns about the country’s institutional capacity to protect the rights and welfare of children and young people. Despite several major ongoing reforms, the report suggests that vulnerable groups—particularly children—are at risk of being forgotten in the broader transition process.
One of the most pressing concerns highlighted is the continued delay in the appointment of Albania’s Ombudsperson and Commissioner against Discrimination. Both mandates expired over a year ago, and Parliament’s failure to replace them has left the country without independent oversight bodies vital to protecting fundamental rights. In 2024 alone, the Ombudsperson’s office registered over 200 complaints related to violations of children’s rights—making it one of the most reported issues, on par with property and judicial matters.
The report also sheds light on Albania’s free legal aid system, which has become increasingly difficult to access. CRCA Albania has been vocal to raise the concerns of children’s and youth access to justice, before and after the implementation reform of the court system in Albania.
“The erosion of trust in democratic institutions starts when children are denied basic protections, legal remedies, and equal opportunities,” Altin Hazizaj, Director of CRCA-ECPAT Albania commented on the report findings. “We cannot build a rule of law that excludes the very people it should protect first.”
The Report stated that… While secondary legal aid cases saw a modest increase, primary legal aid—often used by families and children in crisis—declined significantly. Civil society groups have described the system as underfunded and poorly coordinated, raising alarms over the protection of children in conflict with the law or facing administrative abuse.
Adding to the concern, the EU report names the education sector as one of the high-risk areas for corruption. Although the government has included youth integrity education in its 2024–2030 Anti-Corruption Strategy, implementation remains uncertain. In practice, systemic corruption and limited transparency in public education continue to hinder the quality of services delivered to children and young people.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations working with children and youth face their own challenges. The national strategy for civil society expired in 2023 and has yet to be replaced. Registration hurdles, limited public funding, and a shrinking civic space are pushing many child- and youth-focused NGOs to the margins. In early 2025, several civil society groups reported being targeted by disinformation and smear campaigns, some believed to be politically motivated.
Despite some positive steps—such as the government’s ongoing efforts to reform the judiciary and improve access to case management systems—the report is clear: Albania must do more to safeguard the rights and well-being of children. With the EU accession process still underway, the findings serve as a critical reminder that reforms on paper must translate into tangible protections for those most at risk.