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OSCE roundtable in Albania discusses women's rights, anti-trafficking
TIRANA 15 November 2002
TIRANA, 15 November 2002 - Women's rights in Albania and measures against trafficking in human beings supported by the OSCE brought together Albanian and international experts in a roundtable today.
The Tirana roundtable, hosted by the OSCE Presence in Albania, focused on the current situation of trafficking in Albania, preventive measures and assistance to the victims, as well as on its causes, including economic factors such as unemployment.
"The Presence works closely with the Albanian Government in fighting the trafficking in human beings. It is a priority for us," said Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, opening the discussion this morning.
The roundtable informed the participants of the achievements of the Women's Rights and Anti-Trafficking Education (WRATE) project, implemented by the Presence. WRATE trainers, representatives of the Albanian Government, civil society and international organizations attended the meeting.
WRATE is a grassroots project aimed at raising awareness about trafficking as an abuse of human rights. Its target groups include a wide range of people from rural women and social workers to the police and the politicians. It has been implemented since November 2000, with support from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). So far, 1,600 people have been trained at 104 regional workshops, held throughout the country.
In the future, the WRATE project will aim at expanding its activities further into rural areas of northern Albania. Its goal is to empower the Albanian actors in their fight against trafficking and to continue with prevention activities, through building up stronger mutual relationships and co-operation. The OSCE believes such efforts on the side of the government, non-governmental organizations and the international partners will lead to successful anti-trafficking results. The Presence looks forward to making further contributions in that direction.
The Tirana roundtable, hosted by the OSCE Presence in Albania, focused on the current situation of trafficking in Albania, preventive measures and assistance to the victims, as well as on its causes, including economic factors such as unemployment.
"The Presence works closely with the Albanian Government in fighting the trafficking in human beings. It is a priority for us," said Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, opening the discussion this morning.
The roundtable informed the participants of the achievements of the Women's Rights and Anti-Trafficking Education (WRATE) project, implemented by the Presence. WRATE trainers, representatives of the Albanian Government, civil society and international organizations attended the meeting.
WRATE is a grassroots project aimed at raising awareness about trafficking as an abuse of human rights. Its target groups include a wide range of people from rural women and social workers to the police and the politicians. It has been implemented since November 2000, with support from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). So far, 1,600 people have been trained at 104 regional workshops, held throughout the country.
In the future, the WRATE project will aim at expanding its activities further into rural areas of northern Albania. Its goal is to empower the Albanian actors in their fight against trafficking and to continue with prevention activities, through building up stronger mutual relationships and co-operation. The OSCE believes such efforts on the side of the government, non-governmental organizations and the international partners will lead to successful anti-trafficking results. The Presence looks forward to making further contributions in that direction.