Tirana, 30 July 2025 – On the occasion of the International Day Against Trafficking in Persons, CRCA/ECPAT Albania and ALO 116 – the National Child Helpline, express their deep concern over the scale and growing nature of child trafficking in Albania. This day reminds us of the global commitment to fight one of the gravest forms of human rights violations – human trafficking – while for us, the priority remains protecting children from exploitation, violence and abuse.
Child trafficking in Albania continues to be one of the most severe and invisible forms of exploitation, mainly affecting underage girls, but also boys and children with disabilities, who are exploited for sexual purposes, forced labour, begging, or forced marriages. However, this phenomenon does not emerge by chance – it is the product of extreme poverty, repeated domestic violence, lack of education, institutional neglect, and societal indifference. At its core, trafficking is a consequence of failing to protect children early and sustainably. Without an organised and serious intervention that addresses these root causes, any law or strategy will remain on paper, with no real effect on children’s lives.
Data shows a growing number of children living and working on the streets exploited for commercial purposes. ALO 116 Albania, between 2022 to June 2025, followed up 755 cases that were reported to the Helpline, involving 1,439 exploited children. The numbers increase every year, while the lack of serious institutional response is evident: the government fails to take drastic measures to stop child begging and exploitation on the streets, even though it reacts within 24 hours to other issues, such as clearing public spaces. Another alarming indicator is the latest TIP Report by the U.S. Department of State, which states that 74 children were identified as victims or potential victims of trafficking during the period April 2022 – March 2023, while the following period saw a general increase in cases to 165.
At the same time, the number of children of missing and runway children is growing, often due to violence, extreme poverty, or family abandonment. From 2020 to the end of 2024, 576 such cases were reported to the Police, mainly involving young people aged 14-18, for whom running away is often the first step toward trafficking, sexual violence and other forms of exploitation.
To this day, Albania still lacks a functional mechanism for protecting unaccompanied foreign children, who often transit through the country or are detained in unsafe conditions. This is a critical gap, especially in the context of the standards required by the European Union for candidate states. Against this backdrop, the national child protection system continues to face multiple challenges: lack of early identification, lack of inter-institutional coordination, insufficient human and financial resources, and a justice system that rarely delivers justice for child victims.
All this is happening at a time when Albania aims to join European Union. Can there be genuine integration without addressing child trafficking, guaranteeing their fundamental rights, and prosecuting those who exploit them?!
On this day, we call on all state institutions, particularly the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, to:
– Strengthen capacities for the identification and protection of child victims of trafficking.
– Invest in prevention through education and awareness-raising for children, families, and at-risk communities.
– Enhance accountability through proactive investigations and effective prosecution of traffickers.
– Establish and fund specialised services for child victims of trafficking, including protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.
– Monitor and combat online trafficking through cooperation with digital platforms and technology providers.
– Implement immediate measures to stop child begging and exploitation on the streets.
– Ensure protection for unaccompanied foreign children in line with international child rights standards.
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