Albania

THE STATE OF EFFORTS TO
COMBAT TRAFFICKING OF
PERSONS IN ALBANIA
October 2006
This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development.
It was prepared by Creative Associates International, Inc.
2006 CAAHT Report "The State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking of Persons in Albania - January 2005 - July 2006"
October 2006
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THE STATE OF EFFORTS
TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING
OF PERSONS IN ALBANIA -
JANUARY 2005 TO JULY 2006
AN OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENTAL AND CIVIL SOCIETY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
Prepared by Mr. Dolor Tozaj
With the support of
Ms. Elvana Gadeshi, CAAHT Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Ms. Alketa Gaxha, CAAHT Grant Specialist
Ms. Sarah Stephens, CAAHT Chief of Party
and CAAHT stakeholder organizations and offices
DISCLAIMER
The authors views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or the United States Government.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACRONYMS.....................................................................................................................................................................................................ii
INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION .........................................................................................................1
BACKGROUND...........................................................................................................................................................................................2
REVIEW OF RECENT AND CURRENT EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT,
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOS............................................................3
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS .............................................................................................................................................................................3
National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings 2001-22004 ...........................................................3

National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Children and Protection
of Child Trafficking Victims .....................................................................................................................................................4
Strategic Framework and National Action Plan 2005-22007 .....................................................................................6
Notable Prevention Measures by the Government of Albania ..............................................................................9
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DONOR EFFORTS.........................................11
THE ALBANIAN INITIATIVE: COORDINATED ACTION AGAINST HUMAN
TRAFFICKING (CAAHT).......................................................................................................................................................18
COORDINATION ...................................................................................................................................................................................18
GRANTS ......................................................................................................................................................................................................19
OTHER NGO AND COALITION EFFORTS..................................................................................................................30
The State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking of Persons in Albania 2005-2006

ACRONYMS
AFCR Albanian Foundation for Conflict Resolution
ANNTARC Albanian National Training and Technical Assistance Resource Center
AVR Assisted Voluntary return
BKTF Bashk Kundr Trafikimit t Fmijve/ All Together Against Child Trafficking
CAAHT Coordinated Actions Against Human Trafficking
CAO Citizens Advocacy Office
CCF Christian Childrens Fund
SSA Council of Social Services Associations
CT NAP Child Trafficking National Action Plan
D&E Different and Equal
EU European Union
GoA Government of Albania
I3SP The Institute for Social Work and Psychology
ICITAP International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program
ICMC International Catholic Migration Commission
ICMPD International Center for Migration Policy Development
IGAP Institute for Gender Applied Policies
ILO International Labor Organization
IO International Organization
IOM International Organization for Migration
IPEC International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor
ISS International Social Service-Albania
LCM Legal Clinic for Minors
MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MoLSA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
MoLSAEO Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
NAP National Action Plan
NCRVT National Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Trafficking
NGO Non-governmental Organizations
NRM National Referral Mechanism
OCTF Organized Crime Task Force
OPDAT Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training
OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
RA Responsible Authority
RILAT Rrjeti Lokal i Institucioneve Anti-trafik / The Network of the Local Anti -
Trafficking Institutions
SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
SEE South East Europe
SIDA Swedish International Development Agency
SPTF Stability Pact Task Force on Human Trafficking
TdH Terre des Hommes
TIP Trafficking in Persons Report
UK United Kingdom
UN United Nations
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Unicef United Nations Childrens Fund
US United States
USAID United States Agency for International Development
VMA Viktimat e Minave dhe Armve / Victims of Mines and Weapons
YWCA Young Womens Christian Association
The State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking of Persons in Albania 2005-2006 ii

INTRODUCTION TO THE partners such as the EU, IOM, ICMPD, and
SECOND EDITION the US State Departments Annual
Trafficking in Persons Report.The CAAHT
In February 2006, the USAID/CAAHT
program supports close cooperation
program issued an initial report on The
between local government and civil society
State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking in
actors with law enforcement officials and
Albania - 2005. That report provided an
affirms the importance of the three Ps -
overview of anti-trafficking policies and
prevention, protection and prosecution as
programs of both the Government of
the comprehensive approach to stopping
Albania (national and local) and civil
trafficking of people. However, assessment
society actors during 2005. At the time the
of law enforcement and prosecutorial
report was issued, the recently elected
efforts is outside the expertise of the
Government of Albania was still
CAAHT program and therefore, this
consolidating its new structures and
report does not attempt to reflect these
appointees and was developing its
sectors in depth.
stratgies for anti-trafficking and other
policies. At the same time, the As the CAAHT program comes to the
USAID/CAAHT program - the largest conclusion of its first three years of
single donor source for local NGOs activities, it is undertaking - in cooperation
implementing anti-trafficking programs - with its many project stakeholders - a
was at the half-way point of its 18-month major evaluation of the results and impact
grant disbursement phase. of the CAAHT program from 2003 to
2006.This evaluation effort will culminate
This second edition of the State of Efforts
in a consultative Annual Conference in
to Combat Trafficking in Albania report
November 2006 at which time the
expands on the previous report to
CAAHT program will engage a wide
provide an overview of current anti-
spectrum of stakeholders - governmental
trafficking efforts in Albania between
and nongovernmental, national and
January 2005 and July 2006.The report
international - to examine the conclusions
describes the current state of
of this evaluation process and develop
governmental and NGO programs and
recommendations for further support and
services for both prevention of trafficking
capacity building of the Albanias anti-
of persons and the assistance and
trafficking community. Therefore, this
reintegration of its victims - both child and
second edition of the State of Efforts to
adult.The 23 prevention and victims
Combat Trafficking in Albania does not
assistance/reintegration projects supported
include recommendations for action.These
by CAAHT grants all concluded by July
will be published as part of the report out
2006.This new edition of the report
from the 2007 CAAHT Annual
includes descriptions of these projects and
Conference.
their results.
The CAAHT staff wishes to convey our
Migration management, law enforcement
thanks to the many partners who
and prosecution are also important areas
contributed to this second edition by
in the coordinated effort to combat
reviewing and updating the information
trafficking of persons.These areas are
about the important contributions each of
addressed by reports from the
their organizations are making to help
Government of Albania and a variety of its
The State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking of Persons in Albania 2005-2006 1

prevent trafficking of children and women problem in 2005.1 Services providers who
and to improve the lives of those who work directly with victims of trafficking
have suffered the exploitation and abuse of confirm what is noted in the US 2006 U.S.
this crime against the citizens and nation of Trafficking in Persons report, namely that
Albania. internal trafficking within Albania and re-
trafficking to other countries are both on
BACKGROUND
the increase.
In contrast with the situation at the
beginning of the decade, Albania is According to the 2006 U.S.Trafficking in
generally recognized to no longer be a Persons report, the Government of
country of significant transit or destination Albania does not fully comply with the
for trafficking of persons.This is due largely minimum standards for the elimination of
to the enhanced efforts of Albanian law trafficking; however, it is making significant
enforcement and border authorities, efforts to do so.The report states that the
culminating in the Vlora Puna exercise in government continued to produce
June 2002 against fast-launch trafficking successful prosecutions and convictions of
across the Adriatic, as well as to the traffickers, appointed a new fulltime
opening up of alternative and more national anti-trafficking coordinator with
attractive trafficking routes through the staff, began to implement its witness
countries of the former Yugoslavia since protection law for trafficking victims, and
the ending of the Balkan conflicts.This signed a bilateral anti-child-trafficking
assessment has been confirmed by a agreement with Greece. While the
combination of national police and shelter government demonstrated strong law
data, international governmental and enforcement efforts, overall
intergovernmental organizations (e.g. implementation of the governments
Unicef, US TIP reports, Regional Clearing protection and prevention programs
Point, etc.) and national and international remained weak.The government should
NGO reports. fully implement its witness protection
program, encourage a greater number of
However, Albania still remains a source victims to testify against their traffickers,
country for women and children trafficked and make efforts to guarantee victims
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and safety. Comprehensive reintegration and
forced labor, largely to Greece and Italy, rehabilitation services are critical to
where many victims are then further prevent the re-trafficking of Albanian
transited to the United Kingdom, France, citizens.The government as a whole should
Belgium, Norway, Germany and the assume a greater leadership role in the
Netherlands. Albanian children, especially countrys anti-trafficking efforts, actively
ethnic Roma and Egyptian, continue to be implement its National Action Plan, and
trafficked externally for forced labor or vigorously investigate and prosecute
begging.The US 2005 U.S.Trafficking in trafficking-related corruption at all levels of
Persons report notes internal trafficking law enforcement.
within Albania and re-trafficking of Albanian
victims to other countries remained a
1 Trafficking in Persons Report June 2006, US Department of State, page 56.
2 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

REVIEW OF RECENT AND Europe.The Strategy provides for the
CURRENT EFFORTS BY THE appointment of a National Coordinator
GOVERNMENT, with direct responsibility for National
INTERGOVERNMENTAL Strategy implementation and for
ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOS coordination of anti-trafficking activities, and
also for the establishment of an Inter-
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS
Ministerial Committee for the Fight against
National Strategy to Combat Trafficking Trafficking in Human Beings4. Some months
in Human Beings 2001-22004 after the establishment of the Committee,
it was supplemented with technical focal
The Government of Albania acknowledged points which comprised two
trafficking in persons as a serious national, representatives from each participating
social and law enforcement problem, with ministry and institution. Positive
negative consequences for Albanias achievements during implementation phase
international reputation and Euro-Atlantic of the National Strategy include the
integration aims, when, in December 2001, creation of an anti-trafficking unit in the
it designed the National Anti-trafficking Ministry of Public Order and its 12 regional
Strategy 2001-04. offices, the establishment of the
The National Strategy to Combat International Anti-trafficking Center in Vlora,
Trafficking in Human Beings 2001-2004, greater law enforcement efforts, including
drafted with the assistance of international the 2002 Operation Puna, participation in
organizations, has been elaborated with regional anti-trafficking sweeps, the
three Plans of Action, namely the establishment of the National Center for
supplementary Anti-trafficking Action Plan the Rehabilitation of Trafficked Victims,
for September 2003 - September 2004 greater public awareness, education
covering the last phase of the then initiatives, and improved anti-trafficking
National Strategy, and the National Anti- legislation and penalties, particularly after
Trafficking Strategic Framework and Action the 9 January 2004 incident in the Ionian
Plan (NAP) for 2005-7 as well as the Child Sea in which 21 smuggled and trafficked
Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan 2005-7 Albanians were drowned at sea.
which are described in more detail on page Amendments to the Criminal Code
2
three through seven in this report. approved by the Council of Ministers and
Together these documents comprise a passed by the Parliament in February 2004
comprehensive range of prevention, in response to the 9 January 2004 incident
protection and prosecution measures to substantially increased the scale of penalties,
address the phenomenon.These have been for TIP and illegal border crossing offences,
recognized by many international partners as well as bringing the definition of TIP into
and monitoring agencies3 to be among the line with that in the UN Convention on
most advanced plans in South Eastern Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol).
2 Anti-trafficking Action Plan for September 2003 - September 2004 was approved by the Inter-ministerial Committee on 3
October 2003; National Anti-Trafficking Strategic Framework and Action Plan (NAP) for 2005-7 was approved by Prime
Ministerial Order on 23 February 2005; Child Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan 2005-7, approved by the Council of Ministers
on 11 February 2005.
3 For example, the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings (SPTF), the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), and the U.S. Department of State (TIP Report).
4 Governmental agencies designated to comprise the Inter-ministerial Committee include: the Ministry of Public Order (MOPO),
Ministry of Defense(MoD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Ministry of Finance
(MoF), Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) and the State Intelligence Service. Names and locations of some of these
entities have been adjusted under the new government.

Under these amendments, custodial strategy was a successful cooperation
sentences for trafficking of adult women effort by the inter-ministerial working
range from 7-15 years for organizing, group and domestic and international
managing and financing the offence, to not NGOs and intergovernmental
less than 15 years for causing serious organizations.The inter-ministerial working
harm, and 20 years/life for causing death. group was assisted by Unicef-Albania to
Substantial fines also accompany all ensure conformity with Unicef guidelines
custodial sentences. Similar but higher and the best interest of the child, and
penalties also apply for child trafficking BKTF (Together Against Child Trafficking).
offences. This was the first major effort that brought
together governmental structures and
Reports by Government showed that
NGOs.
significant progress was achieved in
implementing priority objectives of the This is a medium term strategy for the
Action Plan. However, a number of period 2005-2007.The underlying
initiatives envisaged were not fully approach is based largely on the Unicef
implemented.These include: activation of Guidelines and relevant UN and other
Vlora Anti-trafficking Center; establishment international instruments.The Child
of the joint case management database Trafficking NAP is structured according to
involving the Ministry of Public Order, the a five point matrix of Prevention,
General Prosecutors Office and Ministry of Protection, Prosecution, Assisted Voluntary
Justice to record and monitor the progress Return, and Coordination measures, the
of trafficking cases from initial arrests last being intended to bring together all
through prosecution, to conviction and involved actors at national and
sentencing; and full implementation of the international, governmental and non-
Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) governmental, and central and local levels.
Strategy. Also, protection and prevention
At the domestic level, the Strategy
measures still continued to rely mostly on
envisages the creation of a dedicated
intergovernmental organizations, NGOs
national child protection structure based
and other donor-funded activities.
on the internationally recognized
National Strategy to Combat Trafficking Responsible Authority approach - at
in Children and Protection of Child prefecture as well as central level, to
Trafficking Victims coordinate and supervise the prevention,
protection and rehabilitation activities of
A noteworthy event has been the
education, health and social services, law
development of a dedicated strategy for
enforcement, prosecution and local
combating Trafficking in Children and
government officials.This approach also
Protecting Child Trafficking Victims Child
envisages the formation of local level
Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan, drafted
partnerships of government and non-
in March 2004 and presented at Stability
government actors to work with the
Pact Task Force Regional Conference in
central structure in implementing the
Belgrade, though not approved until
strategies in the Action Plan.
February 2005.The drafting process of the

This last element is particularly important,
because without an implementing and
coordinating structure to bring together, at
local as well as central level, the initiatives
foreseen in the Action Plan, there is a risk
that the strategy could become no more
than a well intentioned document with no
meaningful implementation.
Because of the important bilateral

dimension of child trafficking issues with
Greece, and the risk that the problem
could be aggravated by the Olympic
Games in Athens in August 2004, officials
from the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Ms. Iva Zajmi,Albanian Deputy Minister of Interior, and
Affairs, at a round of political consultations Mr. Evripiades Stylianides, Greek Deputy Foreign
Minister, sign the Bi-lateral agreement on anti-trafficking.
with Greece in Athens on 18-19 February
2004, proposed that the two governments
Despite these positive developments and
agree on a joint approach for solving both
continuing political commitment from the
short and long term aspects of the
government, implementation of the Child
problem. Both agreed to have further
Trafficking NAP to date, has been minimal.
contacts to address the particular issues
Because of the delay in final approval by
posed by the Olympic Games, and to
government until February 2005, most of
begin drafting an agreement, based partly
the timelines in the Child Trafficking NAP
on Albanias previous positive experience
need to be revised.
with Italy, for the longer term resolution of
the child trafficking issue.The Albanian side Also, despite good intentions to achieve
presented a draft agreement for the positive results and satisfy recognized
Protection and Assisted Voluntary Return international anti-trafficking standards, it
(AVR) of unaccompanied, at-risk and/or can be argued that the Plan was too
trafficked children during a Prime Ministers ambitious and premature, given the lack of
visit to Athens in June 2004. However, the government capacities and expertise, at
bilateral agreement was signed by the both central and local level, and budgetary
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister and limitations handicapping implementation.
Albanian Deputy Minister of the Interior This is particularly the case for
only in February 27 (see page 7 of the governmental social service structures,
report). which remain insufficiently developed to
provide social support, educational
Signing the bilateral agreement served as a
reinsertion programs, and comprehensive
positive pressure on governmental
case monitoring for trafficked minors and
structures to give greater impetus to
their families. Hence there is now a strong
establishment of the Responsible Authority
need for greater participation of non-
and National Referral Mechanism
governmental organizations and civil
structures envisaged in the draft.

society actors, especially in the areas of and international assessments of Albanias
prevention, assistance and re-integration performance, this NAP 2005-7 addresses
envisaged in the plan, to ensure its particularly poor cooperation between
efficiency and sustainability. police and prosecution, insufficient action
against police, prosecutors, judges and
Strategic Framework and National Action
other officials complicit in trafficking; as well
Plan 2005-22007
as the need for greater government, as well
The purpose of this latest Plan is to ensure as NGOled, initiatives in the areas of
continuity and maintain the progress protection and prevention. As regards the
achieved during implementation of earlier latter, the Plan reflects the governments
strategies and National Action Plans, while recognition of its own responsibility for
at the same time developing new legislative promoting greater social inclusion and
and institutional approaches to meet the alternatives to illegal migration and
changing nature of human trafficking, and a trafficking through a combination of
more systematic, credible and verifiable poverty reduction, gender equality, and
statistical approach to measuring output. educational and employment-creating
initiatives.
This latest Action Plan (NAP) reflects, on
the one hand, progress made and gaps The National Action Plan 2005-7 follows a
identified in national and international structure based on international and EU
assessments of Albanias performance over standards, and, in particular, a model format
the last period of the 2001-4 Strategy. On for a comprehensive anti-trafficking
the other, it seeks to harmonize the response, endorsed by all countries of the
structure of Albanias national anti-trafficking SEE region as part of the EU CARDS
response with the recommendations of program Enhancement of Implementation
international and EU partners, and the Strategies for National Anti-Trafficking
emerging practice of Albanias regional Action Plans in Stabilization and Association
neighbors. Process (SAP) Countries, implemented by
the International Center for Migration
The National Action Plan 2005-7 is based Policy Development (ICMPD).
on the following guiding principles:
In accordance with this regional approach,
z government ownership, the National Action Plan 2005-7 has a two-
z civil society participation, level Strategic and Operational structure,
consisting of Strategic Aims and Specific
z human rights based treatment of victims Objectives, and an Operational Framework
identifying activities to be undertaken to
z interdisciplinary coordination and cross-
implement the Plan.The latter level also
sector responses at government level, and
includes: assigned responsibilities and time
between government, intergovernmental
lines; resource and budget implications; and
organizations and NGOs; and
operational and qualitative output
z systematic evaluation and sustainability. indicators.
In seeking to remedy continuing NAP 2005-7 gives greater emphasis than
weaknesses and gaps identified by national the 2001-4 National Strategy to the

mobilization of government, as well as z Government sponsorship of safe overseas
NGO resources, allocation of employment, vocational training and
responsibilities, timelines, and statistical and alternative employment initiatives, as well
qualitative evaluation of results. other Internet monitoring, education and
targeted public awareness initiatives.
In addition, the NAP incorporates a
number of substantive new initiatives, as z Institutionalization of victims rights and
follows. anti-trafficking awareness training in the
police and prosecution services and the
z Regular reporting of statistics on arrests,
judiciary, and the organization of parallel
prosecutions and convictions in
awareness training for the media.
trafficking and assisted illegal border
crossing cases. The above new elements in both the
National Anti-Trafficking Strategic
z Similar reporting on arrests, prosecutions
Framework and NAP 2005-7 and Child
and convictions of state police and other
Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan reflect
state officials complicit in trafficking and
State Department recommendations made
assisted illegal border crossing cases.
following the June 2005 TIP Report on
z Improved victim and victim/witness Albania, and Anti-trafficking Guidelines
protection and compensation provisions, prepared by the International Center for
including new in-court legal and physical Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
protection procedures, and the creation
Like the Child Trafficking Strategy, the NAP
of a state compensation scheme, funded
2005-7 got late approval by government
in part from the seizure of traffickers
and also suffered from the electoral hiatus
assets.
at senior coordination level.Therefore, little
z Creation of a National Referral implementation was achieved and deadlines
Mechanism for the initial identification, have not been met generally.The main
screening, referral, protection and achievements so far have been the signing
reintegration of returnee or intercepted of the joint Order by the Minister of
trafficking victims, involving all government Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the
and NGO parties, including Albanian MFA Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Equal
officials in main destination countries. Opportunities (MOLSAEO) for the
establishment of the Responsible Authority
z Creation of a national Child Protection (RA), with main responsibility will be to
Committee and Responsible Authority at coordinate and process referrals for all
Central Government and Prefecture trafficking victims, and to perform all other
levels to improve the effectiveness of coordination and reporting functions
child care and anti-trafficking prevention assigned to it in the NRM Agreement.
efforts, and to implement proposed new
identification, assisted return, referral and In addition to establishing a data base for
reintegration procedures for returnee numbers of victims identified, assisted,
child trafficking victims. provided with long term protection,
rehabilitation etc., the Responsible Authority
should ensure that beneficiaries are well
informed about the kinds of services that

can be provided centrally and locally within witnesses in the ability of the system to
the National Referral Mechanism, and protect their identity. Service providers
ensure that they have adequate access to who work directly with victims of
them.The NRM needs established a trafficking report that the system of
directory of centers and organization, witness relocation inside Albania, while
capable for offering adequate services to good in theory, is not functioning in
victims of trafficking, whom RA could practice. In addition, due to the small size
contact and refer victims. In addition, of the country, it remains questionable
should also to be better elaborated and whether sufficient witness protection can
defined to ensure that all appropriate be achieved within the countrys borders.
NGOs and commercial service providers Direct service providers who work with
meet minimum standards of services and returned victims of trafficking have
also are able to become participants in the reported that since the law on witness
NRM at either the Central or Local protection was passed in 2004, they have
Government level. noticed a decrease in the willingness of
foreign governments to provide witness
In the first half of 2006, the Government
protection and relocation of victims
of Albania continued to pursue interdiction
because they assert that there should be
investigation, prosecution and conviction of
sufficient protection in Albania. If the aim
traffickers. Its modest efforts to protect
is to improve the rate of successful
and re-integrate victims of trafficking also
prosecutions and convictions, Government
continued.The Office for Protection of
clearly needs to gain the confidence and
Witnesses and Collaborators of Justice,
cooperation of victims and potential
within the Ministry of Interior, cooperated
witnesses.The financial and technical
with the Ministries of Justice and Finance
requirements to develop effective witness
as well as the General Prosecutors Office
protection within Albania, and outside the
to complete the by-legal acts to the
country when necessary, are known.The
Witness Protection law. At the moment
Government of Albania continues to need
11 cases, covering 54 persons (witnesses
the cooperation and donor support of the
and their extended families), have been
international community in order to secure
provided with special protection measures.
a comprehensive victims protection
Since 2005, 15 witnesses have been
mechanism in which its citizens have
provided with temporary protection for a
confidence.
period of one month. One of the special
protection cases is a victim of trafficking. Also, in response to measures envisaged in
the NAP to improve cooperation and
Much remains to be done to ensure
sharing of information on potential
adequate protection of victims of
trafficking cases with the public and NGOs,
trafficking as witnesses.The envisioned
the Ministry of Interior is implementing a
witness protection technology for the
community-policing strategy to improve
courts, which would allow victims to
relations of police with the general public,
provide anonymous public testimony via
media and NGOs.The Ministry has also
video, is not in place.This significantly
taken steps to increase the level of
reduces the confidence of potential

coordination with NGOs and international The commitment to continuity of anti-
organizations for anti-trafficking prevention, trafficking policies and programs by the
assistance, outreach to vulnerable groups new government and the appointment of
and training. NGOs and IOs are regularly a Deputy Minister of Interior exclusively in
invited by the office of the National charge of anti-trafficking were crucial
Coordinator to participate in the meetings developments.The Deputy Minister of
of the Inter-ministerial Anti-trafficking Interior is serving as the National
Committee and various government policy Coordinator for Anti-trafficking and a new
making initiatives. anti-trafficking coordination unit is
functioning under her leadership.This unit,
Notable Prevention Measures by the
composed of a director and three
Government of Albania
inspectors, serves as technical secretariat
Consistent with the prevention measures to the National Coordinator and
in the NAP 2005-7, several notable efforts coordinates and monitors the performance
were undertaken by government including: of governmental institutions.
z approval of the National Strategy for The creation of dedicated local anti-
Migration, which seeks to promote safe, trafficking structures at the qarku/prefect
legal and non-exploitative employment level to coordinate and supervise the
opportunities abroad through the prevention, protection and rehabilitation
negotiation of labor migration schemes activities of education, health and social
with key European and other destination services, law enforcement, prosecution and
countries; local government officials is an idea that
emerged through the consultative process
z licensing of 81 vocational training courses facilitated by the CAAHT Regional Cluster
for vulnerable or at risk groups; Groups as usual mechanism to enable
z implementation of the project implementation of the coordinated anti-
Prevention of Trafficking in Human trafficking strategy envisioned in the
Beings in Albania through educational National Anti-trafficking Strategic
activities and capacity building of Framework and Action Plans.5 During
schools in cooperation with IOM and 2005, local government and civil society
extending the previous project for participants in CAAHT Regional Cluster
training teacher about human trafficking Groups discussed and elaborated ideas
and its consequences in 10 new schools; about the design and function of effective
and local anti-trafficking structures. In particular,
they urged that such groups be convened
z the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and by either the President of the Qarku or
Equal Opportunity is working with NGO the Prefect and that key qarku-level
and IO advisors to define standards for directors of central ministries be asked to
services and criteria for victims of serve on these committees in order to
trafficking. ensure sufficient political will and
administrative cooperation. It was also
recognized that civil society organizations
5 The 2005-2007 Strategic Framework and NAP calls for the creation of ... regional coalitions of local anti-trafficking
NGOs/reintegration centers, anti-trafficking police/prosecutors and social services...

are at the forefront of anti-trafficking responsibilities, the Office of the National
programming design and implementation. Coordinator organized a series of Regional
Therefore, it was seen as essential to invite Orientation Workshops with technical and
representatives of NGOs with practical financial assistance from CAAHT Program,
anti-trafficking experience to serve as for representatives from the member
members of these structures. institutions/agencies and civil society.The
workshops were organized in Vlora (7 July
2006), Shkodra (11 July 2006) and Tirana
(13 July 2006).
On 24 May 2006, a joint Order by the

Minister of Interior, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the Minister of Labor, Social
Affairs and Equal Opportunities
(MOLSAEO) established the Responsible
Authority to coordinate and process
referrals for all trafficking victims, and to
perform other coordination and reporting
functions assigned to it in the NRM
Agreement.The Ministry of
Staff from the CAAHT program, MOLSAEO and Public Order Interior/National Coordinators Office is
assist Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ms. Iva Zajmi, in drafting the responsible for managing the National
Administrative Order to establish the Regional Committees.
Referral Mechanism/Responsible Authority
On June 19, 2006, the Prime Minister, which will comprise two specialists from
signed Administrative Order No.139 to the Ministry of Interior and two specialists
create Regional Committees in the Fight from the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs
Against Trafficking in Humans at the and Equal Opportunities and from the
prefecture-level.These committees will Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
mobilize the political will, human and With reference to the implementation of
financial resources of local anti-trafficking the CT NAP, the most noteworthy
government and civil society organizations, development was the signing of the Child
and ensure implementation of anti- Trafficking Bilateral Agreement with
trafficking laws and activities countrywide. Greece on 27 February 2006.The
In accordance with the National Anti- agreement was ratified by the Albanian
trafficking Strategy, the new committees Parliament and is pending approval by the
will monitor, coordinate and prioritize the Greek Parliament.
actions of governmental and non-
governmental parties to prevent trafficking The Child Labor Unit in the Ministry of
and to protect victims of trafficking at the Labor, Social Affairs and Equal
local level. In order to orient the newly Opportunities is piloting a program in
established committees to understand Tirana, Kora and Berati titled Child Labor
their anti-trafficking roles and Monitoring System, with technical and

financial support from ILO/IPEC.Trafficked INTERGOVERNMENTAL
children are one of the main target groups ORGANIZATIONS AND
of this program which aims to establish an GOVERNMENT DONOR EFFORTS
institutional framework through Local
Initially the main impetus for non-
Action Committees with representatives of
governmental cooperation with
high level stakeholders at the local level.
government came from intergovernmental
Also, child specialists have been appointed
organizations such as the IOM, OSCE and
in each of the 12 Regional Social Services
Unicef. Most of these efforts, at least in
Directorates, with additional focal points
their early stages, relied on the expertise
appointed in 65 municipalities and 308
of international staff, technical consultants
communes throughout the country.
and NGOs to provide know-how in many
The Management System for Overall areas, such as human rights training, police
Information (TIMS),piloted in Tirana, sensitization to anti-trafficking, domestic
Durrsi and Vlora is now deployed in most violence, public awareness, etc.
of the border checking points (Kakavija,
These activities received encouragement
Kapshtica, Murriqan, etc). Government
and funding commitment from a large
continues to not provide sufficient
number of donors including: Unicef, IOM,
specialized training for police. Such training
US Embassy/USAID, Embassy of
remains limited to inclusion of special
Netherlands, Council of Europe, OSCE,
subjects on trafficking in humans in the
ILO-IPEC, UNHCR, SIDA etc. But
curricula of the Police Academy. CAAHT
increasingly international
funding enable the Legal Clinic for Minors
donors/organizations have realized the
to conduct one-day of training for police
importance of working with and
officers in each of the twelve qarku police
developing the capacities of local NGOs, in
departments on the child-friendly and
order to enhance the local ownership and
child-rights based interviewing techniques
sustainability of their efforts in Albania.
of children.
IOM - Tirana, in addition to providing
Many of the new governments anti-
technical and financial assistance for the
trafficking priorities coincide with
establishment of the National Center for
objectives envisaged in the NAP 2005-7.
Returning Victims of Trafficking (NCRVT),
For example, it calls for enhanced efforts
continues to collaborate closely with
to combat organized crime, trafficking and
Different and Equal, a recently established
corruption, the development of Social
NGO that runs a reintegration shelter for
Services, particularly in the regions and for
returning Albanian victims of trafficking in
disadvantaged groups, increased attention
Tirana with financial support from the
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
CAAHT program and the Embassy of the
emigrants and greater emphasis on
Netherlands. IOM has equipped short
protecting migrants rights abroad, poverty
term reception and interview facilities for
reduction, job creation, education, and
police at main border crossing points, and
better cooperation with intergovernmental
assisted the government in drafting the
organizations and civil society.

recently signed National Referral which contributes to strengthening the
Mechanism (NRM) agreement. national child protection system in
Furthermore, IOM is implementing a Albania. UNICEFs strategic approach
regional project Combating Trafficking in focuses on the following key areas:
Human Beings supported by SIDA,
z developing policies and legislation that
which provides return and reintegration
ensure the protection of trafficked
direct assistance to former Albanian and
children and children at risk;
third country victims of trafficking, and
support and consolidation of the z strengthening local, national and
capacity building for the Government of international coordination on child
Albania, the National Reception Centre trafficking and child protection;
and Different & Equal.
z building the knowledge and skills of
IOM is also implementing two local government and front line
prevention projects. Prevention of professionals to manage and deliver
Trafficking in Human Beings in the rights-based care to trafficked children
Balkans Through Educational Activities and those at risk; and
and Capacity Building of Schools aims
to prevent trafficking in human beings in z ensuring that children and their families
the Balkans through capacity building and have access to a range of community-
educational activities, raising awareness based protection services.
about the risks and consequences of UNICEF advised in the drafting of CT
trafficking among children in schools, as NAP, NAP 2005-7, National Standards of
well as non-attendees thereby reducing Care for Victims of Trafficking, Bilateral
their vulnerability to trafficking. Agreement between Albania and Greece
Promoting safe migration and for the Protection and Assistance of
preventing human trafficking intends to Children Victims of Trafficking and
promote safe migration and prevent National Referral Mechanism. It has
trafficking in human beings through the assisted the National Reception Centre
creation of appropriate information for Victims of Trafficking to strengthen its
exchange channels among all the child protection components through
stakeholders/interested groups, part of the development of standards and
which is the creation of a helpline for protocols of care, ensuring a child-safe
victims of trafficking and their families, environment, and building staff capacity
operated by Ministry of the Interior, with in child-centered approaches to care. In
support from IOM and UNODC. addition UNICEF supported the piloting
UNICEFs anti-trafficking efforts in of Municipal Child Protection Units in
Albania focus on supporting Tirana and Kuksi, in which municipal
Government and civil society partners structures work to coordinate local-level
to strengthen protection mechanisms for response to and case management of
trafficked children and children at-risk, trafficked children and children at risk.

OSCE The OSCE Presence in Albania In partnership with the ODIHR and the
supports the Albanian Government and OCEEA, the Presence is implementing a
other actors in the implementation of the 2006-2007 program to promote economic
National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in empowerment and legal assistance to help
Human Beings and its Action Plan in order prevent human trafficking and to
for the Government to meet the strengthen the ability of the state to
international commitments. As part of the provide protective services to trafficking
Strategy, a legal review was drafted by victims.
Albanian and international legal experts
World Bank World Bank in cooperation
who were commissioned by the Presence.
with IOM and Different & Equal will soon
It contributes to the fight against child
start implementing the project
trafficking in its position on the advisory
Empowering Youth at Risk: Development
board of BKTF.The OSCE chaired a
of a Youth Driven Counter-Trafficking
Witness Protection Task Force which
Campaign in AlbaniaThe objectives of this
negotiated third country resettlement
project are to step up prevention efforts
arrangements with cooperating
and to address the needs of vulnerable
governments and international partners.
youth in Albania by equipping them with
The Unit participated in a national project
relevant skills and knowledge and allowing
on pre-screening of trafficking victims and
them to develop, design and present their
of irregular migrants.Through its project
own counter-trafficking campaign.
Public-Private Co-operation in the
Prevention of Trafficking and Sexual SIDA has supported IOM-Tirana anti-
Exploitation of Minors in Travel and trafficking projects through a grant to IOM
Tourism Industry, the Presence is for the implementation of the IOM
contributing to combating trafficking and Regional Counter-trafficking Project
sexual exploitation of children by having Europe. It is currently co-funding to two
Albanian travel, tourism and hospitality organizations specialized in actions against
sectors adopt and implement a Code of child trafficking - Terre des Hommes for
Ethics in order to join counter-trafficking the implementation of the Transnational
efforts. In the framework of prevention Action against Child Trafficking and Save
tools to trafficking of human beings a joint the Children Norway for its Regional
project of OSCE and GTZ office in Albania Trafficking Response Program, Southeast
was focused on Enhancing employment Europe, in which Albania is one of the
through business competition in the North participating countries. During this time
of Albania.The project consisted of Sida has also financially supported the
delivering start up grants to the young MTV Anti-trafficking in Persons Pan-
women/men winners of the business European Campaign, implemented by MTV
competition from remote areas of Networks Europe that has produced anti-
Shkodra, Kuksi and Dibra region. 44 trafficking information as TV spots, features,
winners out of 123 applicants were able to campaigns and offered free air-time for
benefit from the small grant program and information through the broadcasters of
to start up their own businesses. MTV.

UNHCR Within the framework of EC through one of Norways five largest
funded CARDS program, UNHCR is NGOs, Norwegian Church Aid.
working to improve the capacity of border
Embassy of Netherlands Through its
police to deal with victims of trafficking
grant program, the Dutch Embassy in
and irregular migrants. Under the CARDS
Albania has supported a series of anti-
project UNHCR together with IOM and
trafficking activities of both government
OCSE has provided training to over 2,000
and non-government structures.The
police officers and border guards on pre-
project also anticipated publishing manuals
screening of victims of trafficking, irregular
for teachers and students, and including
migrants and asylum-seekers. UNHCR
trafficking in the school curricula.The
also supports the Linza Reception Centre
Dutch Embassy has also supported
for the victims of trafficking with one
programs on reintegration of victims of
vehicle and office equipment. In addition,
trafficking, and institutional capacity building
UNHCR assisted the Government in
of law enforcement agencies.
rehabilitation of 11 border reception
facilities to be used for temporary The UK Government The British
accommodation for victims of trafficking Embassy, through UK Government
and irregular migrants. centrally administered funding programs,
co-sponsored an IOM Project entitled
Norway In Albania, the Norwegian
Fostering Sustainable Reintegration in
Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes
Albania, Kosovo and FYROM, from 2003
prevention of child trafficking through its
to 2005. It is currently the sole sponsor
contribution to Unicef, which supports the
of a major IOM project entitled
Vatra shelter for trafficking victims in Vlora
Promoting Safe Migration and Preventing
and a range of childrens projects
Human Trafficking, which is scheduled to
implemented by local NGOs under the
last from February 2006 to January 2007.
umbrella of Save the Children. During
2006 the Norwegian Embassy in Tirana The Italian Government currently is
supported a project in Berati for supporting several related to anti-
awareness rising about trafficking and its trafficking. In Tirana, Shkodra and Elbasani
risks. Intellectual Women of Shkodra, a support on for policies on minors is being
project implemented by Human implemented. Among other activities, it is
Dimension in Shkodra intended to provide intended to increase the capacities of the
psychological assistance to victims of National Committee for Adoptions,
trafficking, and potential victims of support the establishment of an Inter-
trafficking as well as awareness among ministerial and multi-sectoral Coordinating
groups at risk. During 2005-06 Norway, Forum at the Ministry of Labor, Social
supported a project implemented by In Affairs and Equal Opportunities for the
Help of Northern Women of Puka for a protection of at risk and abandoned
computer training course with at risk or minors, and conduct a study on the
vulnerable women and girls and is also a problems associating at risk or abandoned
co-donor of the TACT project. Norway minors.The Qarku of Shkodra is being
has been supporting Vatra shelter in Vlora

supported to develop its social policies for acquire the necessary skills to find a job
the prevention of youth migration and later. Some of the children assisted in this
promotion of regular migrations in the project previously had been trafficked; but
Western Balkans through offering through this program they have been
information services for migrants. integrated into classes and have stopped
going to Greece or Italy.
Austrian Government The Austrian
Development Cooperation is supporting Hellenic Aid is the development agency
three ongoing projects Cooperation of of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Police to combat trafficking and smuggling Greek Government. It contributes to the
of Human Beings, and illegal migration, a multi-donor supported Transnational
three-year program for training and Action Against Child Trafficking (TACT)
integration between Austria and South being implemented by Terre des Hommes
Eastern Europe, as well as SEE-Parliaments (Switzerland,Tdh) and Arsis (Greece), in
work against to support the Network of cooperation with BKTF members. (For
the Parliaments of the South-Eastern further information about the TACT
European Countries in the fight against the project, see page 31.
organized crime and a comprehensive
International Labor Office (ILO)
anti-trafficking training entitled Multi
International Program for the
agency proactive investigation into
Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC)
trafficking in human beings.
ILO-IPECs mandate is to provide technical
Swiss Agency for Development and and financial assistance to member States
Cooperation (SDC) has been in the implementation of child labor
supporting a number of activities and conventions, especially the Worst Forms of
initiatives in Albania on improving social Child Labor Convention (1999). Currently
justice, one its main domains of ILO-IPEC is implementing a four year (until
cooperation with Albania. In this 2009) sub-regional Project of Technical
framework, since 1998, SDC is financing a assistance against the labor and sexual
development project on Integration of the exploitation of children, including trafficking,
street children in the cities of Kora, in countries of Central and Eastern Europe
Elbasani, Bat and Tirana,This project, titled (PROTECT CEE) which is being
Classes for Alternated Education and implemented in Albania, as well. In the
Vocational Training is being implemented framework of this sub-regional project
by NPF. It aims to reintegrate street three projects are under implementation in
children (between 12 to 18 years old) into Albania: 1) Integrated program for the
schools, reduce risk of child delinquency elimination of child trafficking in three
and prostitution and prevent them from selected areas of Albania: Elbasani, Kora
being trafficked.The project consists on and Berati; 2) Vocational training for the
opening of two classes per city in Elbasani, prevention and elimination of child
Berati, Kora and Tirana, where 320 Roma trafficking in Kora and 3) Child Labour
and Gypsy children learn how to write and Monitoring System in Albania (Tirana,
read and, where they participate in Kora and Berati).
vocational training activities in order to

strategies. A prosecutor from the Serious
Crimes Prosecutors Office participated in
the IV program: EURP-Combating
Trafficking in Persons in June 2006.Through
the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL),
US government is also supporting a 3-year,
USD 3.5 million USDOL-funded ILO-IPEC
regional project to combat the trafficking
of children for labor and sexual
exploitation.This project was renewed in
September 2006 for another 3 years.The
project is working in partnership with the
Government of Albania and local
organizations. Project activities include
US Ambassador Marcie B. Ries makes a guest
appearance on the educational radio soap
distributing educational materials and
opera, Rruga me Pisha. training teachers in 12 regions and youth
representatives to use the materials in
US Embassy The US Government has local communities to raise awareness on
been a major contributor to overall anti- combating child labor.
trafficking efforts in Albania through the
Department of State, USAID, ICITAP, International Criminal Investigative
OPDAT and the Department of Labor.The Training Assistance Program
US Embassy, through its Democracy and (ICITAP) ICITAP supports the
Governance grants program provides professional development of the Albanian
support for initiatives of local NGOs National Police. Current support includes
(Vatra, Council of Social Services development assistance in the areas of
Association in Durres, Womens Advocacy integrated border management, combating
in Tirana, IGAP and In Help of Northern organized crime, reforming the police
Women of Puka) in their efforts to academy and training, developing merit-
advance democratic development, fight based personnel management, and
trafficking, and promote economic installing and implementing a complete law
opportunity. Prevention of trafficking enforcement information management
through providing employment and system. ICITAP has supported the
economic opportunities to the victims of establishment of the Anti-trafficking Unit in
trafficking and women and girls at risk has the Ministry of Interior and its 12 regional
been the objective of projects supported units in the regional Police directorates.
by the Democracy Commission program ICITAPs Three Ports Strategy, designed
in 2004. Also, government and NGO to enhance the ability of law enforcement
officials have been included in the structures to detect and interdict illegal
International Visitor Program (US migration and trafficking, has evolved into a
Department of State) which every year broader focus on enhancing overall border
brings to the US future Albanian leaders to management through the restructuring of
US for exposure to American policies and the Border and Migration Police and
improvement of blue and green border

security. In addition, ICITAP has a full-time
advisor based in the National
Coordinators office.The National
Coordinator, attached to the Ministry of
Interior, is a position created specifically to
design, manage and coordinate the GoAs
programs and efforts to fight trafficking in
persons.
Office of Overseas Prosecutorial

Development Assistance and Training
(OPDAT) has organized and conducted a
series of trainings for prosecutors and
judges throughout the country, on issues
including witness protection, organized USAID CAAHT grants for NGOs in Shkodra were announced at
a ceremony 15 December 2005. Left to right: Mr. Gjovalin
crime, and investigative means. OPDAT
Kolombi - Prefect; Mr. Harry Birnholz - USAID Albania Mission
works particularly closely with prosecutors Director; Mr. Lorenc Luka - President of the Reginald Council;
in the Serious Crimes Prosecutors Office, Mr.Ahmet Premi - Director of the Regional Police Directorate.
with an emphasis on these same issues. victims and/or childs rights perspective.
The OPDAT resident legal advisor chairs Both projects are further illustrated in the
the Legal Reform Working Group of the course of this report.The description of
International Consortium, participates in the CAAHT program immediately
the Witness Protection Working Group, following includes information about the
and has provided assistance in the drafting 22 NGOs supported through CAAHT
of important pieces of legislation in the last grants. Each of the grantee projects is
two years. contributing to the achievement of one or
USAID USAID/Albania supports a broad more of the objectives of the NAPs.These
range of anti-trafficking efforts in Albania are noted in italics at the end of each
which focus on prevention and protection. paragraph that describes the project. Prior
Currently USAID funds two major anti- to the current USAID Anti-Trafficking
trafficking initiatives -The Albanian Initiative: programs, USAID supported reintegration
Coordinated Action Against Human assistance to Albanian victims of trafficking
Trafficking (CAAHT) and Transnational and protection, social, and health services
Action against Child Trafficking (TACT) to third country national victims through
project (see page 32 for further capacity building of a National
information about the TACT project). Both Reintegration Support Network (RSN)
of these activities began in 2003, and were and shelter, implemented by IOM. In
renewed for an additional three years in addition, USAID worked through Partners
2006. CAAHT and TACT share similar for Democratic Change (PDC) and
components of prevention, reintegration Management Systems International (MSI)
and coordination, and are focused on to implement its anti-trafficking activities.
addressing the issue of trafficking from a PDCs efforts focused on addressing the

prevention aspects of trafficking through throughout the country, the RCGs have
their Women and Youth Leadership identified existing gaps and specific needs
Program, while MSIs work incorporated and opted for practical activities to combat
the needed involvement of government trafficking in their individual regions.
officials in efforts to expose and address
The development of RCGs is the CAAHT
the crime of trafficking through their work
programs response to the practical anti-
in anti-corruption.
trafficking needs that have been identified
at local and national levels. As explained
earlier, government structure outreach is
not good in terms of both assessing and
addressing the extent of the phenomenon
at local level, identifying vulnerable
communities, and the kinds of assistance
and services that need to be provided.The
advantage of the CAAHT approach is that
it recognizes that each prefecture is
different in terms of the trafficking
vulnerability of its populations and their
needs in shaping anti-trafficking responses.
Earlier this year, based on ideas that
Local government and NGO leaders from Tirana, Durrsi and emerge from its Regional Cluster Group
Elbasani discuss common challenges in anti-trafficking work at meetings, CAAHT advised the new
the Central Regional Cluster Group meeting.
government that regional committees
THE ALBANIAN INITIATIVE: were needed to more effectively combat
COORDINATED ACTION trafficking in humans in Albania.
AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING The National Coordinator for Anti-
(CAAHT) - USAID trafficking consulted CAAHT in the design
Coordination of the new committees. Subsequently,
CAAHT produced an advisory paper with
A core component of the CAAHT information and recommendations about
program is its effort to encourage the purpose and structure of these
extensive and sustainable coordination of regional anti-trafficking committees.The
NGO activities with those of local paper was welcomed by the National
government. It is doing this by bringing Coordinator, who invited CAAHT staff to
together key local government and NGO be part of a small working group which
actors in Regional Cluster Groups (RCG) drafted the Order that was then signed by
and by supporting the creation of Qarku- the Prime Minister on 19 June 2006.The
level Anti-trafficking Working Groups. In Order reflects substantially the design and
order to contribute practically to purpose initially suggested by the CAAHT
prevention, assistance and reintegration program.
efforts and to ensure better services

The design establishes 12 regional to help improve the cooperation and
committees, one for each prefecture, to coordination among this core set of
promote anti-trafficking activities country- service providers for victims of trafficking.
wide, and to enable increased enforcement The participants indicated that this was the
of existing anti-trafficking laws. In first time they had gathered as just the
accordance with the National Anti- four anti-trafficking shelters to discuss and
trafficking Strategy, the new committees better synthesize their work. In addition to
will monitor, coordinate and prioritize the their serious and thoughtful discussion of
actions of governmental and non- the agenda topics, they identified several
governmental parties to prevent trafficking important areas for future discussion.
and to protect victims of trafficking at the
Grants
local level.
Between February 2005 and July 2006,
The regional committees will also enable
USAID Albania, through the CAAHT
government and non-governmental sectors
Grants Program, supported a wide variety
to collect and exchange information,
of dynamic civil society anti-trafficking
identify, refer and solve actual trafficking
efforts throughout the country.These
cases, determine the necessary measures
initiatives include development of the first
to prevent trafficking and protect families,
university anti-trafficking curriculum for
groups, persons and children at risk of
social workers and psychologists; shelter
being trafficked, among other duties.
and reintegration services for women and
In order to support the Regional Anti- children victims of trafficking; house-to-
trafficking Committees, created by order of house awareness campaigns in highly
the Prime Minister, CAAHT staff provided vulnerable rural areas of the country;
technical and financial assistance to the awareness raising and empowerment
office of the National Coordinator, to training for Roma women; and an
prepare and conduct three Regional educational radio soap opera broadcast
Orientation Workshops for prefects and three times a week throughout the
the members of their committees to country. Each project is being conducted in
orient them to their roles and close cooperation with local and national
responsibilities and assist them in beginning government offices and officials.
to organize their work together.These
workshops were held during the second
and third weeks of July in Vlora, Shkodra
and Tirana.
On 25 May 2006, CAAHT gathered key

staff from the Community Center of
Gjirokastra,Vatra Psycho-social Center,
Different & Equal,Tjeter Vizion, and the
National Center for the Reception of
Victims of Trafficking for a technical
discussion of the role of the recently
established Gjirokastra transit shelter, and
Representatives from Gjirokastra from the Regional Police
Directorate, District Prosecutors Office, Regional Office of the State
Social Services and Terre des Hommes discuss the establishment of
their Regional Committee at an orientation workshop organized by
the Ministry of the Interior with the support of CAAHT.

By this comprehensive approach, CAAHT manual, which resulted in a training
seeks to respond to appeals from both experience (rather than a full academic
governmental and non-governmental curriculum) for approximately 209
actors for better cooperation and joint students and practitioners.The CAAHT
initiatives. Connecting activities and anti- program will continue to consult with the
trafficking efforts of all state and non-state University Faculty to pursue ways to utilize
actors in this way is indispensable to this material within the framework of the
success in addressing and eradicating in the Faculty academic curriculum. [This project
longer term this criminal activity. A new supported NAP 2005-7: activity 6 at
phase of CAAHT grants will be Strategic Aim 1/Specific Objective B under
committed in the first quarter of 2007. Prevention; CT NAP: activities 1 and 2 at
specific objective 3, activity 14 at specific
Three NGO programs supported by the
objective 5 under Prevention, activity 6 at
CAAHT Grant Program were
specific objective 1, activity 1 at specific
implemented by NGOs, which are not
objective 3 under Protection.]
necessarily long-term anti-trafficking
partners. However, each project made an Rruga me Pisha Foundation created
important contribution to the and broadcasted a year-long nationwide
improvement of the anti-trafficking work in radio soap opera with multiple anti-
their sectors.These projects include: trafficking story lines.The project intended
to raise nationwide public awareness via
The Institute for Social Work and
radio in order to improve human rights for
Psychology (I3SP) was funded by the
the most disadvantaged people generally
CAAHT program to create a new social
affected by trafficking in persons and the
work and psychology curriculum specific to
target groups directly affected by
anti-trafficking and training for University of
trafficking.The project produced 104 radio
Tirana students, as well as professionals, in
episodes of a radio soap opera (15
these advanced social work and counseling
minutes each) over a 12 month period
skills.This coursework included providing
and reached 7200 persons. Broadcasting
professional higher education training on
for a large audience it informed and
victims assistance and reintegration issues,
educated them about the actual situation
establishing more effective mechanisms for
and their efforts on the prevention. At the
planning and implementing post-shelter
end of the project there will be more
reintegration, and improving psychosocial
information available on trafficking related
services that assist and reintegrate the
issues, including disadvantaged target
victims of trafficking into their
groups of people and especially about
communities. A draft curriculum was
human rights standards in Albania; [the
written with the aim to increase the skills
project also complemented awareness
of psychosocial workers in shelters and
raising activities envisaged in both NAP
other institutions and organizations. A 16-
2005-7 and CT NAP ]
day course was conducted using this draft

Professional Journalists of Gjirokastra and services in the prefecture. Key
trained media in south Albania about structures within the local authorities
professional media ethics, standards and (e.g. the Directories of Social Services,
good practices for reporting trafficking Education, Health and Police), which are
related stories.The project aimed to well positioned to serve victims of
improve the level of reporting of the trafficking were brought into working
persons trafficked, from the journalists who groups with local civil society organizations.
work for the local and national media in ICMC developed the capacities of these
South of Albania. Journalists participated in governmental and civil society institutions
training workshops and then practiced to prevent trafficking and to address the
what they learned by contributing to a needs of victims returning to their
monthly newspaper supplement in which communities. Capacity building efforts
the strategies for preventing and were focused on the need for prevention,
combating human trafficking were providing proper protection, assisting in
discussed. 2,400 copies per month of this victims return and re-integration, and
four-page newspaper supplement, titled coordination of services within the Durrsi
Against, were distributed nationwide. [This district and with other regions of Albania.
project supported: CT NAP activity 1 at The project served as a pilot for emerging
specific objective 3 under Prevention; NAP anti-trafficking working groups in other
2005-7: activity 3 at Strategic Aim prefectures/qarkus of the country. It
1/specific objective A under Prevention] reached 6,362 persons through its
prevention activities and assisted seven
The following eight national and
victims of trafficking. [This project directly
international NGOs were supported by
supported activities in the CT NAP:
the CAAHT grant funds awarded in the
activities 1 and 2 at specific objective 4
first and second phases of the grant
under Protection; activities1 and 2 under
program to implement a variety of
Coordination; and NAP 2005-7: activity 5
programs to prevent trafficking of women
at specific objective B under Protection.]
and children and to better assist and
reintegrate the victims of trafficking. Legal Clinic for Minors (LCM) provides
psychological and legal assistance to the
International Catholic Migration
victims of trafficking. LCM has
Commission (ICMC) has conducted in
accomplished public awareness campaigns
the past projects including sheltering to
by distributing posters and leaflets to the
third country nationals and awareness
general public, especially at the high
raising. With funding from the CAAHT
schools, police stations, courts, district
program, ICMC conducted a regional pilot
prosecutions offices, etc. LCM has provided
project in Durrsi Qarku, which sought to
specialized training to police and CAAHT
develop a local government and NGO
stakeholders about the legal framework
coalition approach to protection and
concerning trafficking in children, childrens
prevention, as called for in the CT NAP
rights, psychological support to children
and NAP 2005-7.This ICMC project
and child friendly interviewing techniques.
established a coordinated community
The CAAHT grant program supported
based system of anti-trafficking programs
the Legal Clinic for Minors (LCM) to

provide legal and psychological assistance counter trafficking network.The primary
at the operational level to vulnerable beneficiaries of the project were victims of
children. Such assistance was provided in trafficking who were provided with direct
conformity with Albanian legislation in the reintegration assistance.The project
areas of civil, family and criminal law. By directly assisted approximately 83
addressing the legal and psychological beneficiaries during the 15 months of
needs of these children, LCM intended to operation... Other beneficiaries of the
decrease children vulnerability and make project included those NGOs and national
them less exposed to child trafficking and institutions that were provided training
other crimes. LCM referred cases of within the framework of this project. At
children assisted by itself to other private least five NGOs were provided training
and public service providers for further with a further ten cooperation agreements
assistance according to the needs of the developed between D&E and other
child. In this aspect particular emphasis was partners concerning direct or indirect
given to the operational network of BKTF. assistance to victims of trafficking. [This
This all enabled children to profit by a project supported activities under both
comprehensive system of protection, NAPs and NRM. NAP 2005-7: Strategic
which will either prevent them from Aim 1 - specific objective B i.e. activities
becoming victims of trafficking or under NRM approach; CT NAP: activities
guarantee their protection and 3, 6, 8, 13 at specific objective 1; activity 1
reintegration. [This project will contributed at specific objective 3; activity 3 at specific
to the implementation of activities objective 4 and activities 7 and 8 at specific
envisaged in NRM agreement and CT objective 5 under Protection; activity 9 at
NAP: activities 2, 3, 5, and 6 at specific specific objective 5 under Prevention.]
objective 1 under Prevention; activity 2 at
specific objective 2; activity 1 at specific
objective 3 and activity 14 at specific
objective 5 under Protection; activity 4 at
specific objective 1 under Prosecution.]
Different and Equal (D&E) was

established by the IOM.Thanks to CAAHT
funding and the continuing support of
IOM, D&E has become an independent
Albanian NGO providing shelter and
reintegration services for victims of
trafficking. Within the CAAHT program
Different and Equal provided a full and
comprehensive set of short term and long
term reintegration services to victims of
trafficking in Albania and complemented
other services in the field of counter
trafficking within the framework of a
IGAP's trafficking prevention message:The

future can be built even here!

Institute for Gender Applied Policies apartments in the district of Elbasani.
(IGAP) conducted prevention activities CEFA-Albania (the European Committee
targeting 6,293 girls, women and children, on Formation and Agriculture) cooperated
such as: awareness campaigns about the with Another Vision to extend these
risk of trafficking; rural house-to-house services and programs to the underserved
anti-trafficking information campaign and region of Gramshi. 2,876 individuals were
an educational.The project funded by reached through prevention activities and
CAAHT targeted young women in under- 36 victims of trafficking were assisted by
served rural areas of Lezha, Rreshen, Tjeter Vision during the implementation of
Lushnje, Perrenjas and Devoll who are this project. [This project mainly
particularly vulnerable to trafficking.This contributed to implementation of the
program educated women, girls and boys NRM agreement and also to CT NAP:
about the phenomena of trafficking in activity 2 at specific objective 3; activities 4,
order to protect themselves against 5 and 7 at specific objective 5 under
trafficking and sexual exploitation.The Prevention.]
project used an innovative house-to-house
information campaign, disseminating
information on possibilities for legal
migration, providing age appropriate
information on sexual relationships, gender
sensitivity, and life skills. Other project
activities included awareness rising in
schools and communities, producing and
distributing posters, leaflets and sugar packs
in schools, bars. [This project supported
CT NAP: activity 1 at specific objective 3
under Prevention; NAP 2005-7 activity 1 at
Strategic Aim 1/specific objective (a) under
Prevention]. Summer camps organized by Tjeter Vizion help vulnerable
children build skills, make friends and find hope for their futures.
Tjeter Vizion / Another Vision provided
legal and psychological assistance to at-risk Vlora Womens Hearth (Vatra) Until
and trafficked children.The CAAHT the creation of the NCRVT and Different
supported project had two main focuses: & Equal, this NGO provided the main
the social rehabilitation and integration of shelter facility in Albania, which it continues
minors who have been trafficked; and the to run.Vatra cooperates with these other
reduction of trafficking through the shelters and provides statistical analysis,
provision of social services to at-risk and conducts local public awareness campaigns,
vulnerable groups. It built on the and chairs the southern regional NGO
organizations successful work with school coalition RILAT.Vatra implemented a
drop-outs using non-formal basic project funded by the CAAHT grant
education. Project services included program for sensitizing young people of
residential centers, shelters and secure high schools in the towns of Vlora, Fieri,

including their outlying areas of Roskovec, risk girls and women Project objectives
Patos, Novosele and Levan about the risk were accomplished through a combination
of trafficking in persons and educating of activities and services including:
them about ways to protect themselves. identification of trafficked women, referrals,
This project extended trafficking accommodation, rehabilitation, psycho-
prevention and awareness raising programs social and medical assistance, legal
to new target areas. Project activities assistance, vocational training, etc. 66 girls
included 377 training sessions for youth and women benefited from the services in
and women and 6 seminars with the shelter. Social workers worked with
community with a total of 1890 the families of the victims to support
participants , radio talks, leaflet distribution, reintegration and help prevent them being
newsletters, interviewing, counseling, recycled into further trafficking. [This
judicial assistance, health assistance, etc. project added on initiatives envisaged in
Vatra has also supplemented its shelter NAP 2005-7, CT NAP and NRM. CT
and reintegration services for trafficked NAP: activity 1 at specific objective 3;
girls and women, with interviewing and activity 9 at specific objective 5 under
counseling sessions aimed at identifying Prevention; activities 6 and 9 at specific
those who can further reintegrate and objective 1 under Protection; NAP
providing them with new opportunities for 2005-7: activity 1 at strategic Aim 1/specific
their growth and development. Under a objective B under Prevention; activity 6 at
second CAAHT grant,VATRA Strategic Aim 1/specific objective B under
implemented the project Protection.]
Accommodation, rehabilitation and
Murialdo Social Center provided
reintegration shelter for trafficked and at -
vocational training for minors especially
vulnerable to trafficking, particularly from
the Roma community.Through street and
family outreach, the project staff identified
minors who were especially vulnerable to
trafficking because they live in situations of
economic hardship and social
marginalization, particularly minors from
the Roma community.Through individual
counseling support and participation in
school or vocational training (depending
on the age and previous education of the
minor) the project provided these children
with new perspectives on their situation
that helped them strengthen their ties with
Anti-trafficking awareness raising outreach conducted by the their families and the society at large.
VATRA for impoverished communities helps women learn how Activities in groups helped them to
to protect their families and themselves.
integrate themselves at school, acquire

vocational skills, work more efficiently and Christian Childrens Fund (CCF) In
develop personal skills that help them the summer of 2005, the CAAHT grant
protect themselves from being trafficked. program funded CCF to conduct a rapid
1,271 children participated in these qualitative assessment to capture,
activities and 7 benefited from the document, analyze, and report on the
assistance and reintegration activities phenomenon of trafficking of children and
provided by Murialdo. [This project young women in the northeast Albanian
complemented activities under CT NAP: districts of Tropoj, Kuksi, Has and Dibra.
activities 5, 10 and 11 at specific objective The assessment provided a better
5 under Prevention.] understanding of the presence of the
phenomenon of trafficking vis--vis
Young Womens Christian Association
smuggling or voluntary migration. Data
(YWCA) Over the past several years, the
from the survey was used to enable CCF
Young Womens Christian Association of
to design programs to help create
Albania (YWCA) has built a strong
communities that do not tolerate
relationship with residents and leaders in
trafficking and establish mechanisms to
the suburban areas of Tirana where the
integrate marginalized children and youth
Roma community has the biggest
to protect them from becoming victims of
concentration. Working with local
trafficking. through a second grant from the
community leaders and NGOs, the YWCA
CAAHT program CCF implemented a
project supported by the CAAHT grant
larger project that addressed migration of
program raised awareness and informed a
unaccompanied minors and created
total of 1,091 women, girls and children of
communities that discourage child
these communities about trafficking in
trafficking.This objective targeted 7,717
persons.The trainings educated the
beneficiaries and was accomplished
women and girls about the dangers and
through workshops educating the
mechanisms of trafficking, improved their
community on the risks associated with
self-esteem, and helped them develop
trafficking, devising a local tracking system
personal skills by which they may protect
for vulnerable/at risk minors (institutional
themselves and their children. [This project
collaboration and outreach), and sharing of
supported initiatives envisaged in NAP
experience with key actors at the local
2005-7 and CT NAP. NAP 2005-7: activity
1 at Strategic Aim 1/specific objective A
under Prevention; CT NAT: activity 1 at
specific objective 3; activities 1 and 10 at
specific objective 5 under Prevention.]
At the YWCA center, a child and his teacher use his

drawings to explain to his peers how children can be threat-
ened by traffickers but helped by the police.

level. [Both projects complemented efforts access to, NGO anti-trafficking programs
to identify existing gaps in marginalized and and services, the third and final phase of
vulnerable areas and corresponds the CAAHT grant program was targeted
particularly with activities envisaged in CT specifically to NGOs with main and/or
NAP: activity 2 at specific objective 3; field offices in the qarkus of Dibra, Kuksi,
activity 1 at specific objective 4 under Shkodra, Berati, Gjirokastra and Kora. In
Prevention; and also NAP 2005-7 activity 1 order to enable less experienced NGOs
at Strategic Aim1/specific objective A; to achieve more successful project
activity 2 at Strategic Aim1/specific implementation, one grant was awarded
objective B under Prevention.] to an NGO with technical expertise in
NGO management and capacity building.
This NGO is, in turn, focused on training
and supporting the less experienced
CAAHT grantees as well as providing
targeted capacity building for other NGOs
supported with CAAHT funds. Eleven
grants were awarded in the third and final
phase of the CAAHT grant program. One
(CCF) has already been described.The
remaining nine programs are briefly
described below (one is not listed
because it was terminated mid-project).
Albanian Foundation for Conflict
Mediation and Reconciliation (AFCR)
conducted a project to increase capacities
on conflict resolution, reconciliation and
mediation for 180 representatives from
civil society organizations and local
CCF's trafficking prevention message:
Attention! Every child who emigrates
government institutions involved in anti-
illegally can be trafficked! trafficking networks in Dibra, Shkodra,
After completing grant awards in the first Berati, Kuksi, Gjirokastra, and Kora. Staff
and second phases of the CAAHT grant members from the AFCR local offices in
program, it became evident that the those locations have also directly assisted
majority of applicant NGOs based outside in mediation of existing conflict cases,
the capital (Tirana) was substantially less especially with a focus on mediation
capacitated to manage CAAHT grant between victim and family. Project staff has
funds and implement anti-trafficking assisted 13 cases of victims of trafficking
projects. Since the CAAHT program has a during project implementation.This project
specific objective of supporting broader served three major aims. Firstly, it increased
geographic distribution of, and beneficiary the capacity of these structures to deal

better with conflict cases between family strategic Aim 1/specific objective B under
and victims of trafficking; secondly, it Prevention; and activities in CT NAP:
increased the training capacities of the activity 1 at specific objective 3 under
involved actors by creating a sustainable Prevention; activity 7 at specific objective 5
structure; and thirdly, it offered under Prevention.]
reconciliation and mediation for concrete
Albanian National Training and
cases between victims and their families or
Technical Assistance Resource Center
other parties.The philosophy behind this
(ANTTARC) implemented a capacity
project was that the most important step
building project for all CAAHT grantees.
towards reintegration in the society is the
This capacity building program provided
reconciliation with the family and being
extensive training and technical assistance
accepted and not stigmatized.This process
to the board and staff members of the
will in the long run decrease the stigma
seven organizations listed below as well as
towards the victims and will make the
offered targeted capacity building to some
society more open to acceptance of such
of the other NGOs noted above.This
human suffering. [This project contributed
technical assistance was intended to
to the re-integration efforts underlined in
strengthen the institutional capacity and,
both NAPs for human rights oriented
therefore, enhance sustainability of the
approach towards victims of trafficking,
participant NGOs and helping to ensure
understanding and acceptance and social
that their projects supported with CAAHT
inclusion.]
funds would achieve their goals and
Dorcas Aid International Albania (and objectives. As an Albanian organization
partners) Dorcas Aid International committed to realization of civil societys
Albania has a strong record of practical role, ANTTARC contributed from its own
assistance to impoverished families and resources to this important program
communities in Kora municipality and initiative.The project included three main
nearby communes.The project supported components: training and technical
by CAAHT targeted Gypsy and Roma assistance to Phase 3 grantees; customized
communities in the municipality of Kora. technical assistance to Phase 1 and 2
Project staff coordinated with government grantees; and an exchange of experience
social services and other NGO providers workshop. [This project supported
in the area to identify families at-risk of activities under both NAPs and NRM.
trafficking or with trafficked family NAP 2005-7: Strategic Aim 1 - specific
members and provided them education, objective B i.e. activities under NRM
vocational skills and social support. Direct approach; activity 1 at strategic Aim
assistance was provided, as needed, in the 1/specific objective A under Prevention;
form of food, clothing, medicines and and CT NAP : activities 3, 6, 8, at specific
school materials 514 beneficiaries. [This objective 1 under Protection activities 1
project supported activities in the NAP: and 2 at specific objective 3 and activity 1
activity 1 at strategic Aim 1/specific at specific objective 4 under Prevention.]
objective A under Prevention; activity 1 at

NRM approach; activity 1 at strategic Aim
1/specific objective A under Prevention;
and CT NAP : activities 3, 6, 8, at specific
objective 1 under Protection activities 1
and 2 at specific objective 3 and activity 1
at specific objective 4 under Prevention.]
VMA Kuksi This project built on a

project funded by Unicef during 2004. It
provided follow up activities to train and
empower local structures (i.e. front line
workers: police, teachers, health workers,
social administrators, etc) to improve and
Staff of CAAHT grantee organizations learn about Project
Management at an ANTTARC capacity building workshop funded fully take over themselves the provision of
by USAID/CAAHT. social services regarding trafficking issues.
VMA Kuksi closely worked with
Community Center of Gjirokastra
government officials and taught them how
implemented a project on prevention and
to provide social services to their
assistance and reintegration of the victims
communities and helped local social
through a transit sheltering facility in the
Administrators to identify take up their
Qarku of Gjirokastra. 2976 beneficiaries
responsibilities.They were assisted to learn
were reached through prevention activities
the techniques and methodology of
included training of teachers and social
detection/tracking of vulnerable and
workers, and public awareness activities
trafficked children. A series of trainings
targeting vulnerable communities, and also
were conducted with local authorities to
vocational training for girls and women
familiarize them to the framework of
who are at-risk of being trafficked.The
National Strategy for Social Services. Local
transit shelter Life and Hope established
structures were assisted and trained to
by Gjirokastra Community Center was
design job description and terms of
developed to serve victims of trafficking
reference of social administrators of
identified at the Kakavija and Tre Urat
targeted communes in cooperation with
border crossing points, assist the
the Department of National Social
Gjirokastra police who do not have the
Services of Kuksi. A coordination Steering
ability to provide such services, and to
Committee (a Prefect led Anti-trafficking
compliment and cooperate with the
Working Group) and networking between
established long-term shelters: National
targeted communes were established
Reception Center, Different and Equal,
based on the example of Municipality. A
Vatra and Tjeter Vision.The center
Referral mechanism for all communes was
provided 105 of girls and women with
established to help communal social
short term services. [This project
administrators address the issues of
supported activities under both NAPs and
trafficking in an effective manner. 6,015
NRM. NAP 2005-7: Strategic Aim 1 -
individuals from the project areas
specific objective B i.e. activities under

benefited from the activities conducted by NAP: activity 1 and 2 at specific objective 3
VMA. [This project supported activities under Prevention; activities 1 and 4 at
under both NAPs. NAP 2005-7: activity 5 specific objective 5 under Prevention; and
under Strategic Aim 1 - specific objective B under NAP activity 2 at Strategic Aim1-
under Protection; activity 1 at strategic Aim specific objective C under Prevention.]
1/specific objective A under Prevention;
In Help of Northern Women of Puka
and CT NAP: activity 1 and 2 at specific
The Step by Step project aimed at
objective 3 under Prevention.]
preventing at risk populations in Puka
Intellectual Women of Pogradeci (and from being trafficked.The project had two
partners) Stop child trafficking in components: 1) awareness raising and 2)
Pogradeci area was a joint effort of three vocational education.The awareness raising
NGOs in the district of Pogradeci, in activities included anti-trafficking
cooperation with the local government, for educational sessions, visits to families of
the prevention of child trafficking and for children who have abandoned school, local
the reintegration of trafficked children.The TV debates, publishing and distributing
project goal was the reduction of the leaflets and posters.The tailoring and
number of trafficked children through computer vocational training courses
raising communitys awareness and served 41 young women and girls from
providing specific services and activities for Puka and neighboring underdeveloped
special groups that are at risk of trafficking. areas;,. [This project supported activities
400 individuals were targeted through under CT NAP: activity 1 and 2 at specific
these activities and project staff assisted objective 3 under Prevention; and NAP:
two cases of victims of trafficking. [This activity 1 at Strategic Aim1- specific
project supported activities under CT objective B under Prevention]
Frontline workers study anti-trafficking training materials at an awareness

raising workshop by VMA Kuksi

the persons trained during seminars and
round tables. [This project supported
activities under NAP: activity 1 at Strategic
Aim1-specific objective A under
Prevention.]
Protection of Urban and Rural

Women, Berati Awareness raising for
the prevention of human trafficking and
trafficking of women and girls in the region
of Berati was a six-month project to help
prevent trafficking of women and girls in
the Qarku of Berati and to provide
protection and reintegration assistance and
also free psycho-social and legal support.
Through informative sessions with students
and women, trainings and house-to-house
visits this project reached an audience over
WID's anti-trafficking prevention 1,193 persons. [This project supported
message: Say NO to trafficking! activities NAP 2005-7: Strategic Aim 1 -
Women in Development, Shkodra specific objective B i.e. activities under
The CAAHT-funded project Say No to NRM approach; activity 1 at strategic Aim
Trafficking intended to stimulate thought- 1/specific objective A under Prevention;
provoking debate within local institutions and CT NAP : activities 3, 6, 8, at specific
and society to increase awareness, educate objective 1 under Protection activities 1
and systemize the prevention and and 2 at specific objective 3 and activity 1
denouncement of human trafficking in at specific objective 4 under Prevention.]
Shkodra, Puka and Malsi e Madhe and
targeted 2,124 individuals. In particular,
successful efforts were made to extend
these awareness raising efforts to rural
areas where there is a lack of interventions
and potentially greater risk to trafficking.
The messages emphasized respecting and
protecting the rights of the individual as a
way to help in the prevention of violence
and trafficking. Some of activities included:
public awareness through electronic and
written media, leaflets and posters;
preparation of the module for the trainers
training on anti-trafficking; training of
High school students in Kuova created a play to educate
trainers, community based discussions and their peers about the risks of trafficking
public awareness campaigns performed by

OTHER NGO AND COALITION improve the balance, connection and
EFFORTS coordination of government and NGO
efforts, though the result of these
The principle of Civil society
commitments is still not clear in practice.
participation requires that both the
development and the implementation of Currently NGOs activity is mainly directed
programs and measures against trafficking towards the areas of protection,
are not only carried out by government rehabilitation, legal and psychological
authorities, but that they also involve assistance, voluntary return, reintegration,
stakeholders who are independent from vocational training, and public awareness.
the state and outside the government and The following is a summary of some of the
public administration.To involve them in most important NGO and
the national anti-trafficking response not intergovernmental organizations activities
only means allowing them to take part in in these areas, in addition to those NGOs
meetings, working groups, etc., but also already noted as supported through the
giving them an active role in decision- CAAHT grant program.
making so that their views and opinions
BKTF In 2002, several leading NGOs
are reflected adequately in the design and
working on the issue of child trafficking,
implementation of the anti-trafficking
together with representatives of the
response.
government and international organizations
The involvement of NGOs is important, formed an Albanian inter-NGO coalition
because based on their concrete against trafficking in persons called All
experience, they are able to represent the Together Against Child Trafficking (BKTF).
victims perspective and complement the This coalition was created to coordinate
support provided by the state.Their NGOs actions to combat child trafficking,
inclusion in a national strategy helps to as well as to advocate and cooperate with
balance law enforcement needs with a the Albanian government in the efforts for
victim-centered, human rights-based tackling this phenomenon. BKTFs role is to
approach, as NGOs can not only ensure act as an advisor for NGOs and the
adequate assistance to victims, but also
render prosecutions more effective, if the
victims willingness to cooperate with law
enforcement improves with better
attention to his or her needs.
Prior to the approval of the National

Strategy and Action Plan 2001-4,
government had refused to take
responsibility for tackling the problem of
trafficking in persons, and most of the anti-
trafficking response was from NGOs and
intergovernmental organizations. Both the
previous and new Governments have
recognized in principle the need to
Representatives from the Kora offices of Terre des hommes, NPF

and the Legal Clinic for Minors have been active participants in the
Eastern CAAHT RCG.

government on the basis of the following assistance through both in-country and
axes: prevention, protection, assisted inter-country coordination of case follow-
voluntary repatriation, and rehabilitation. up through a referral network.The
An important element of BKTFs activity is Director of ISS was recently elected as the
cooperation with governmental structures. President of BKTF.
Particularly important was its involvement
Citizens Advocacy Office (CAO)
to assist in highlighting child trafficking
provides legal services to the victims of
issues. Its contribution was indispensable in
trafficking as well as legal education to
drafting the CT NAP and Child Trafficking
citizens and local governments. CAO is
Cooperation Agreement with Greece.
currently running a project to assist
Representatives of this organization have
government efforts to determine
participated regularly in CAAHT Regional
budgetary requirements for the
Cluster Groups and other CAAHT events.
implementation of its anti-trafficking action
Transnational Action Against Child plans.
Trafficking (TACT) This multi donor
Childrens Human Rights Center of
funded bilateral initiative on reducing
Albania (CRCA) advised the inter-
trafficking of Albanian Children to Greece
ministerial working group on child
and Kosovo is being implemented by Terre
trafficking about specific issues related to
des Hommes (Switzerland,Tdh) and Arsis
elimination of child labor and child
(Greece), in cooperation with BKTF
trafficking for exploitation. CRCA has
members.This project, which is co-funded
published several national reports on child
by USAID through 2009, is developed
labor and child trafficking in Albania, among
within Albania through five axes of
which are included: ALBANIA:Trafficking of
intervention, i.e. prevention, protection,
Children for Sexual Purposes, and Child
assisted voluntary return, reintegration, and
Labor and Street Children in Albania. Since
coordination. Besides improving awareness
2005 CRCA has focused its work against
and information about trafficking and its
child labor and child trafficking on lobby
dangers, the TACT project ensures
and advocacy, capacity building and
protection and assistance to victims,
awareness.
families and witnesses in Albania, Greece
and Kosovo, in conformity with the local Save the Children - Albania Program
legislation.The project invests also in This joint program of Save the Children
building-up local capacities and in creating Norway, UK, US, Italy and Sweden works
sustainable child protection mechanisms with and through partners and
involving municipalities, schools and implemented field programs providing
community members. Representatives of training or education on child rights.
this organization have participated Building on its first Regional Child
regularly in CAAHT Regional Cluster Trafficking Response Program begun in
Groups and other CAAHT events. 2002, Save the Children began a second
phase of the regional project in 2005
International Social Service - Albania
involving a combination of research, direct
(ISS) provides psycho-social services for
interventions, capacity building,
vulnerable, disadvantaged children and
coordination and advocacy in Albania,
families facing issues of child trafficking and
Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania,
exploitation. Forced child labor, illegal
Bosnia Herzegovina and Bulgaria.This
immigration and repatriation have been
second phase is designed to prevent
the primary focus of ISS intervention and

trafficking of children and advocate for discussed anti-trafficking issues in
positive changes in policies and actions of Montenegro and Albania and identified
key anti-trafficking actors in Albania. It is ways of cooperation across the two sides
being carried out in cooperation with of the border. Recently they have
municipalities of Cerrik and Kuova and implemented a project supported by the
the Tirana based NGO Children of the Norwegian Embassy, which provided
World and of Albania.The major activities psychological help to victims of trafficking,
include: support for two youth run and potential victims of trafficking, both
centers in Cerrik and Kuova and a socio- women and children, as well as awareness
educative centre for reintegration, in among groups at risk. Representatives of
Kinostudio/Tirana. Other activities include this organization have participated in
research on risk/resiliency factors for child CAAHT Regional Cluster Groups and
trafficking which will be completed within other CAAHT events.
2006 and ongoing advocacy work through
Kora Women in Kora has provided
participation in the coalition All together
vocational education to vulnerable women
against child trafficking.
from rural areas and to those
NGO Refleksione works to protect recommended by the regional anti-
women rights against all forms of violence trafficking police office in Kora.
and discrimination, including sheltering for Representatives of this organization have
victims of domestic violence, and participated regularly in CAAHT Regional
promoting social-economic integration of Cluster Groups and other CAAHT events.
women. Furthermore through their
Council of Social Services
Women Employment Centers in Tirana,
Associations (CSSA) in Durrsi has
Shkodra and Pogradeci they have
complemented in its own way the anti -
contributed to poverty and unemployment
trafficking efforts especially in the areas of
reduction.
Kneta and Porto Romano which are
Several other NGOs that deal with inhabited by immigrant population from
women, children or legal assistance issues northern areas of the country. CSSA has
have made modest, but meaningful, implemented prevention awareness raising
contributions to combating trafficking of campaigns, vocational education courses,
women and children either in prevention psychological and social counseling and has
or assistance and reintegration, or both. referred returned victims or girls at risk to
other institutions.
The Women and Girls Counseling
Centers in Tirana, Shkodra, Pogradeci and Centre for Civic Legal Initiatives (ex-
Berati have assisted vulnerable women Women Advocacy Center), in Tirana,
with psychological and social counseling advocates for greater access of citizens,
and have mediated with families or especially of women and girls in the legal
referred women at risk or returned victims system. It offers free legal support and
to other anti-trafficking institutions. psychological and social assistance to
victims of domestic violence and trafficking
Human Dimension in Shkodra has
and to poor women.The centre provides
implemented vocational education for
legal information and legal education to
vulnerable women coming from the poor
increase awareness of the public about
suburb zones of the city.This organization
their rights and how to efficiently use such
also organized a cross border anti-
rights in their interests.
trafficking seminar where participants

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THE STATE OF EFFORTS TO

USAID Contract No.: 182-C-00-03-00109-00

Creative Associates International, Inc.

Office phone: +355 4 357 416 / 417 / 418

Office phone & fax: 355 4 272 858

AN OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENTAL AND CIVIL SOCIETY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS

Prepared by Mr. Dolor Tozaj

With the support of

Ms. Elvana Gadeshi, CAAHT Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Ms. Sarah Stephens, CAAHT Chief of Party

and CAAHT stakeholder organizations and offices

INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION .........................................................................................................1

REVIEW OF RECENT AND CURRENT EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT,

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOS............................................................3

GOVERNMENT EFFORTS .............................................................................................................................................................................3

National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings 2001-22004 ...........................................................3

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DONOR EFFORTS.........................................11

THE ALBANIAN INITIATIVE: COORDINATED ACTION AGAINST HUMAN

OTHER NGO AND COALITION EFFORTS..................................................................................................................30

The State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking of Persons in Albania 2005-2006

The State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking of Persons in Albania 2005-2006 ii

The State of Efforts to Combat Trafficking of Persons in Albania 2005-2006 1

1 Trafficking in Persons Report June 2006, US Department of State, page 56.

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Because of the important bilateral

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On 24 May 2006, a joint Order by the

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Office of Overseas Prosecutorial

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On 25 May 2006, CAAHT gathered key

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Different and Equal (D&E) was

IGAP's trafficking prevention message:The

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At the YWCA center, a child and his teacher use his

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VMA Kuksi This project built on a

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Frontline workers study anti-trafficking training materials at an awareness

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Protection of Urban and Rural

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Prior to the approval of the National

Representatives from the Kora offices of Terre des hommes, NPF