OSCE Presence helps children in need in Albania

During November and December 2012, the OSCE Presence in Albania helped children in urgent need in a number of towns by providing them with basic living and education items. The children were identified as being in need by the Children Protection Units in the municipalities of Fier, Lushnja and Berat, as well as by the Vatra shelter in Vlora.

The donated items, which included food, school supplies, toys and winter clothes, were delivered to the social workers and the families of the children during visits by the Head of the Presence, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth and other Presence staff.

During his visit to Fier, Ambassador Wollfarth urged the authorities to allocate enough resources to the Child Protection Units, and called for a more proactive role by the National Agency for the Protection of Children’s Rights.

“The truth is that there are too many children in dire need in this country, many victims of tragic circumstances from domestic violence to trafficking, abuse or other terrible situations. It is important that the institutions redouble their efforts to protect their rights and well-being,” he said. “The OSCE Presence in Albania will continue to support institutional efforts to enhance the protection of children and the full enjoyment of their human rights.”

The Presence is active in promoting the protection of children’s rights as part of its wider mandate on human rights. The Presence helped facilitate the establishment of Anti-Trafficking Units and the drafting of action plans, and supported the setting up of Child Protection Units and multi-disciplinary commissions at the local government level.