Suela Hana – University of Tirana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Bulevardi “Gjergj Fishta”, Tirana, Albania
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/EMAN.2021.413
5th International Scientific Conference – EMAN 2021 – Economics and Management: How to Cope With Disrupted Times, Online/Virtual, March 18, 2021, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS published by: Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans, Belgrade, Serbia; ISBN 978-86-80194-43-1, ISSN 2683-4510
Abstract:
Extensive developments and changes in the economic, political, social, cultural and scientific
fields have undoubtedly brought problems and disturbing phenomena in many parts of the world,
such as the trafficking and exploitation of human beings. Every year many women, girls and children
are illegally transported across the borders of their countries of origin, sold or bought, bringing to
mind all the primitive ways of human slavery, seen in stark contrast to the galloping development that
society has taken today, as well as aspirations for a worldwide civilization and citizenship. Regarding
Albania, the beginning of trafficking in human beings dates in 1995 (Annual Analysis of 2003 of the
State Social Service, Tirana), where the country found itself in a situation of instability of political,
economic, social and cultural changes, as well as in a transitional geographical position to was used
by traffickers, mostly Albanians, as an “open door” for the recruitment, transportation and sale of
women, girls and children from Moldova, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Albania, China, etc. Albania is
identified as a source and transit country for trafficked women and children. In addition, many NGOs
and international organizations report significant increase cases in the trafficking of human beings. In
1999, official sources reported that young women and girls had been lured or abducted from refugee
camps in Albania during the Kosovo crisis and then sold for prostitution in Italy and the United Kingdom.
Reports from Italy, Germany, Belgium and the UK suggest that Albanian women and girls, which
are trafficked for prostitution mostly are from rural areas (Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe Review Conference, September 1999). It is almost common to talk about the phenomenon of
trafficking in human beings, about the motivating and attractive factors, the consequences associated
with this phenomenon of Albanian society. Given the extent of the trafficking phenomenon during the
last 30 years transition period in Albania, the Government has made different legislative and institutional
efforts, through a strategic approach to combat and mitigate this phenomenon. However, the elements
of identification, protection, reintegration and long-term rehabilitation for victims of trafficking
remain issues of concern and still not properly addressed, in the context of the institutional fight against
trafficking in persons, which should have as its primary goal the protection of the human rights for victims
of trafficking and not their further violation or re-victimization (Annual Report of the European
Commission, 2007).
Keywords:
Trafficking of human beings, Integration, Policies, Evaluation, Albania.
REFERENCES
Annual Analysis of 2003 of the State Social Service, Tirana, 2003 p. 81.
Annual Report (2007) of the European Commission “On the Stabilization and Association
Agreement of Albania with the European Union”, p. 49. Ratified by Law no. 8920, dated
11/07/2002, Official Journal 41, July 2002.
Law no.8733, dated 24/01/2001 “On some changes… in the Criminal Code”.
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Review Conference, September 1999.
OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 557, PC.DEC / 557, 24/07/2003, can be consulted at:
http://www.osce.org/documents/pc/2005/07/15594en.pdf, annex to the Plan-Decision of
the OSCE Permanent Council no.685, PC.DEC / 685, 07/07/2005.
VKM Nr. 1083, dated 23/07/2008 on the approval of the “National Strategy for Combating
Trafficking in Human Beings Human Rights 2008-2010 ”as well as the supplementary
document“ National Strategy for Combating Trafficking “Children and Child Protection,
victims of trafficking.”