Tirana, 15 April 2025 – CRCA-ECPAT Albania and ECPAT International launched today in Tirana the international campaign “Justice Without Time Limits” to advocate for the removal of statutes of limitations on the prosecution of child sexual abuse crimes across the world.
The campaign highlights the principle that justice should not have an expiration date. Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse take years—even decades—before they feel safe or ready to speak out. Research shows that it takes an average of 9 to 15 years for a survivor to disclose abuse, if they ever do. Yet, despite this reality, many countries still enforce time limitations that prevent survivors from seeking justice.
The purpose of the law should be to ensure protection for those who have experienced abuse, avoiding any interpretation that could benefit the perpetrators. It is essential that legal time limits do not become barriers to justice for survivors.
The campaign calls for a legal approach that acknowledges the realities of trauma and the complex process of healing. Globally, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience sexual abuse during childhood. Still, many of them are never able to pursue justice due to time restrictions imposed by law.
Countries like Kenya, Pakistan, and Malaysia have already removed time limitations for the prosecution of child sexual abuse crimes. Albania, along with many other countries, is urged to follow this example.
“The voices of survivors must be heard—no one should ever be told it is ‘too late.’ Sexual abuse is not something that time can erase,” reads the official message of the campaign.
CRCA/ECPAT Albania and ECPAT International invite all citizens, institutions, and organizations to join this initiative and support the call for justice without time limits for all children affected by sexual violence.