Below is a short summary of some of the recomendations of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Juan Miguel Petit, following his visit to Albania. Read the full text. Please note that this is not an official UN summary.
Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
Juan Miguel Petit
(E/CN.4/2006/67/Add.2)
Country visit: 31 October to 7 November 2005
Report published: 27 March 2006
The Special Rapporteur believes that the construction of a functioning child protection system should be a priority for the country. (para. 116)
Social programmes for communities are clearly missing in Albania. The implementation of social policies that serve as a protection net for children should be a priority. (para. 117)
The Special Rapporteur further recommends creating the profession of specialized social workers with a specific expertise to work in prevention and protection programmes for children and communities at risk as well as in the reintegration of child victims. (para. 118)
Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. (para. 119a)
In the area of investigation and prosecution of the crime of trafficking, the position of victims/witnesses is particularly vulnerable. (para. 120)
The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to continue strengthening collaboration with other countries, especially with Greece, on matters related to migration and trafficking in human beings, in particular at the police level. (para. 122)
The substantial number of children not registered at the civil registry is a concern. Unregistered children are deprived of their most basic rights and exposed to higher risks of exploitation and abuse. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to adopt measures to facilitate procedures for birth registration. (para. 125)
The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to address the problem of corruption at all levels. The envisaged decentralization of social services will give prominence to the municipalities. New risks of corruption might arise. The Special Rapporteur recommends being vigilant over the risks of corruption at the local level once the municipalities start to administer budgets they did not used to have. (para. 129)
