OSCE Presence gives 2014 Award to Albanian organizations fighting child trafficking and exploitation

The OSCE Presence in Albania has presented local civil society associations ARSIS and Children of the World and Albania the 2014 Presence’s Award for their contribution in assisting street children and fighting child trafficking at the ceremony in Tirana.

The Presence developed a project this year on combatting child trafficking and exploitation, designed to empower state institutions and civil society organizations to address this problem with an emphasis on the prevention of the exploitation of child labour.

According to a national study, conducted by UNICEF, Save the Children and the Albanian NGO ARSIS, more than 2,500 children are living on the streets , more than 800 are in danger of being trafficked within and outside the country and be exploited for sex, labour, begging and petty crimes.

The 2014 Award was accepted by ARSIS director Zini Kore, and Children of the World and Albania director Klara Simoni.

Speaking at the ceremony, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama commended the work of the Presence and thanked the OSCE for its contribution in the protection of human rights and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fully respect human rights and freedoms in Albania.

Child trafficking and exploitation was also the topic of Head of the OSCE Presence Ambassador’s Florian Raunig op-ed published in Panorama and Albanian Daily News newspapers on 10 December 2014. In it he stressed that only a co-ordinated and collaborative approach by institutions and society can ensure that children receive the support they need to be protected from trafficking and to start building their lives.