TIRANA – An awareness campaign to combat the sexual exploitation and violation of children under the motto “We Are 1” has been launched in Albania at the initiative of President Ilir Meta in cooperation with the Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania (CRCA).
“It is time for all of us to raise our voice to protect children’s rights and in this frame to improve policies, the legal framework and to erect barriers to stop sexual violence and exploitation of children,” said Meta on Thursday. He pointed out that it was necessary to draft a special law on protecting children online.
According to him, the criminal justice code must be amended to protect minors especially from sexual violence. The President said that the National Register for offenders, who have committed prior sexual crimes against children, must be compiled since “Increase of punishment is the key to success for the future”.
“The purpose of democracy, law and human rights – the pillars where democratic states are supported – is to protect every citizen from injustice, violence, abuse and violations of human integrity and dignity. Sexual violence and exploitation of children is among the most serious criminal and cruel abuses that can happen in a society,” said Meta.
Earlier UNICEF Office in Albania released a letter of the civil society and international organizations working in the field of child protection, part of the working group for the Protection of Children in Emergencies, which expressed the deep shock at the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in Albania, coming to light through the recent severe cases made public.
“This situation should be considered as a national emergency, which needs a nationwide reflection and the reaction of all actors to enable the effective protection of any child at risk of sexual violence or abuse,” said the signatories of the letter condemning any form of violence, abuse, exploitation or neglect of one or more children. “Any action to protect, assist or prevent violence, exploitation, trafficking or child abuse should be a priority for all,” urged the letter. /argumentum.al
