Tirana, 2 May 2025 – Ahead of the 2025 Parliamentary Elections, CRCA/ECPAT Albania organized the first and only public forum dedicated entirely to policies concerning children and young people in Albania. Parliamentary candidates from major political parties presented their visions and priorities, creating an inclusive space for dialogue between civil society and the country’s main political forces.
At a crucial moment for Albania’s European future, as the country has officially opened negotiations for membership in the European Union, the forum marked a concrete step toward transparency, dialogue, and youth participation in decision-making processes.
The event brought together representatives of the main political parties running in the elections, who shared their commitments and policy proposals aimed at improving the lives of children and young people. Candidates focused on key issues such as education, healthcare, social protection, digital safety, youth employment, and participation in public life.
Several common priorities emerged from the discussions, including strengthening the social state, improving public services, ensuring free and quality education, promoting housing opportunities for youth, supporting rural areas and families in need, and advancing gender equality. Concrete measures were also highlighted, such as extended school hours, free meals and transportation for students, support for children with disabilities, the creation of youth centers, and programs to promote youth entrepreneurship.
This forum represents an important milestone in placing the issues of children and youth at the center of the national political and public debate. It reinforces the message that sustainable national development cannot be achieved without clear, measurable, and impactful policies for the younger generation. Reflecting on such initiatives underscores the need to build a more inclusive, transparent, and youth-sensitive political culture that truly addresses the challenges faced by children and young people in Albania.