Tirana, 8 April 2024 – A consortium of three major networks and four national CSO’s, under the umbrella of the Human Rights House in Albania, led by CRCA/ECPAT Albania submitted today for consideration to the UN Human rights Council concerning the situation of children and youth rights in Albania.
“It is a major achievement that within such a short period of time we were able to come together as major child and youth CSO’s and networks to compile this very important report – stated Altin Hazizaj, Executive Director of CRCA/ECPAT Albania – The report raises some serious questions for the authorities and what they should have done to address the recommendations of the 3rd UPR cycle, which in our opinion they remain largely unimplemented.”
The Report was submitted as a written contribution on the children and youth rights situation in Albania for the 4th cycle of UPR reporting. It provides information on child and youth education, poverty, violence, social protection, health, and access to justice, including information on children and youth belonging to minorities and the LGBTIQ community in Albania. The Report is a contribution of a consortium of organisations, part of the Human Rights House Albania, respectively CRCA/ECPAT Albania, National Platform for Safer Internet in Albania, Albanian Coalition for Education, Albanian National Youth Network and PINK Embassy Albania.
This is the third contribution that CRCA/ECPAT Albania has provided to the UPR reporting mechanism since its establishment. The last time Albania reported was in spring of 2019 and most of the recommendations from that time remain unresolved from the Albania as a state party to the UN human rights treaty reporting system. The Government of Albania has until August 2024 to submit the UPR Report, thus little is known so far on the process that the authorities will follow to draft the report.
The civil society UPR Report on the rights of children and youth keeps the same critical overview as the CRC and CEDAW Alternative Reports. It aims to provide up-to-date critical information on the areas where the Government and its institutions have done very little to address major concerns such as child and youth poverty, discrimination against disabled children and youth or those belonging to deprived minorities or the LGBTIQ community. The report also raises the concerns on very little progress that Albania has made into child protection, lack of youth social welfare services, students’ rights to education, juvenile justice, access to justice for children and youth victims of crime etc.
The Report will be made public on 1st of June to the Albanian media, authorities and CSO’s on the occasion of the National Children’s Day.
For more information, please contact:
CRCA / ECPAT Albania