Tirana, 7 February 2024 – Vodafone Albania and Abissnet, two of the leading internet and communication companies, joined this morning the National Pact for the Protection of Children from Violence. The signing ceremony took place on The International Safer Internet Day at the opening of the 9th National Forum for Safer Internet in Albania.
“Vodafone Albania has always been at the forefront of efforts to protect children in both cyberspace and in their daily reality. With CRCA/ECPAT Albania we have an excellent cooperation in support of ALO 116-111 and now within the framework of iSIGURT.al”, said Viola Puci, from Vodafone Albania.
The Pact focuses on increasing and strengthening coordination, real-time information exchange, joint action and organizing national awareness campaigns to prevent child sexual violence and exploitation online and in everyday life. It contains six basic measures, while institutions, civil society and the business sector can develop its action in implementation of the plan.
“Abissnet joined the invitation of iSIGURT and CRCA Albania to sign the National Pact, as we believe that we all have a responsibility for the protection of children,” said Kejd Myrta of Abissnet.
Albania is facing an increasing number of reports of violence and sexual exploitation of children online and in everyday life. In order to increase the number of events and denunciations, CRCA/ECPAT Albania initiated the National Pact for the Protection of Children from Violence in Albania, which was signed by the four main ministries of the Albanian Government, CRCA/ECPAT Albania and ALO 116-111, on the International Day for the Rights of the Child on 20 November 2023.
“The signing of the Pact by two leading companies of the Internet and communication industry in Albania is an achievement that already brings us closer to the establishment of the National Alliance for Protection of Children from violence and exploitation in the virtual world and in everyday life. We are working to bring the Platform together with online platforms in Albanian language and other Internet companies” – said Altin Hazizaj, representative of CRCA/ECPAT Albania.