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98 total results foundAuthor: Roos, Mari-Ann Title: Analysis of the Criminal Justice System of Albania: Report by the Fair Trial Development Project Summary: This analysis of the criminal justice system of Albania addresses the following issues: rights during pre-trial detention; rights to an effective defense; two case studies (Revenge for Albania Justice Case and a corruption case); domestic violence and the criminal justice system; transparency and access to information; and efficient trails and witness issues. Details: Tirana, Albania: OSCE, 2006. 245p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2006 Country: Albania Keywords: Corruption Shelf Number: 111760 |
Author: Danaj, Sonila Title: Situational Analysis Report on Child Trafficking in Albania Summary: This report is an assessment of the current child trafficking situation in Albania and the level of progress that has been made by those engaged in fighting this practice. The findings are based on the review of available publications, as well as in-depth interviews with all the parties involved, i.e. state agencies, the international community and non-governmental organizations, all of which are involved in the process of fighting child trafficking and the protection of child victims of trafficking. Details: Tirana, Albania: Albanian Inter-NGO Coalition Together Against Child Trafficking, 2008. 78p. Source: Year: 2008 Country: Albania Keywords: Child Abuse Shelf Number: 111765 |
Author: Chemonics International Inc. Title: Creation of a Community Coordinated Response Team Against Domestic Violence in Albania Summary: This manual is intended as a resource for law enforcement, prosecution, the health, social service and the NGO sector and the judiciary to begin the process of improving Albania's response to victims of domestic violence. Details: Washington, DC: United Sttes Agency for International Development, 2006. 80p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2006 Country: Albania Keywords: Domestic Violence, Manual Shelf Number: 118742 |
Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Albania: Country Overview 2009 Summary: This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in Albania in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in the following key areas: drug prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drugs laws, etc. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2009. 15p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Albania Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Shelf Number: 119128 |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Business, Corruption and Crime in Albania: The impact of bribery and other crime on private enterprise Summary: This survey of private businesses in Albania reveals that corruption and other forms of crime are a great hindrance to private enterprise and have a negative effect on private investment. A significant percentage of businesses pay bribes to public officials repeatedly over the course of the year. Businesses in the Accommodation and Transportation sectors are those most affected by bribery, followed by businesses in the Construction sector. The public officials with the highest risk of bribery in interactions with businesses are police officers, customs officers, tax/revenues officers, municipal or provincial officers and land registry officers. While indicators of corruption perceptions are undoubtedly useful for raising awareness, this survey measures the actual experience of corruption and crime through representative sample surveys of businesses in order to provide a more realistic, evidence-based assessment of corruption and crime affecting the business sector. In so doing it focuses on the extent and pattern of bribery by businesses from five different sectors (accounting for over 83.5 per cent of all businesses in Albania) in their frequent interactions with the public administration. According to the survey, of all the businesses that had contact with a public official in the 12 months prior to the survey 15.7 per cent paid a bribe to a public official. The average prevalence of business bribery in Albania is slightly lower than the share of ordinary citizens (19.3 per cent) who experienced the same in UNODC's 2011 general population survey. The examination of the experience of businesses that pay bribes to public officials underlines the fact that corruption plays a role in the daily business of many companies. Bribe-paying businesses pay an average of 4.6 bribes per year, or about one bribe every eleven weeks. The prevalence of bribery is higher among small (10 to 49 employees) businesses than among businesses of other sizes. Half of all the bribes paid to public officials by businesses in Albania are paid in cash (50 per cent), followed by the giving of food and drink (24.4 per cent) in exchange for an illicit "favour" by the public official and the provision of other goods not produced by the company (22.8 per cent). When bribes are paid in cash, the mean amount paid per bribe is 53,000 Lek, or the equivalent of 904 EUR-PPP. As for which party actually broaches the subject of kickbacks, in 22.7 per cent of all bribery cases the payment of a bribe is offered by a representative of the business without a prior request being made, whereas in almost two thirds (63.6 per cent) of cases payment is either explicitly (17.1 per cent) or implicitly (38.2 per cent) requested by the public official or paid after a third-party request (8.3 per cent). The most common purposes for paying bribes cited by businesses is to "speed up business-related procedures" (39.1 per cent of all bribes), "making the finalization of a procedure possible" (16.8 per cent), "receiving better treatment" (7.2 per cent), "reducing the cost of a procedure" (6.6 per cent) and "receiving information" (2.8 per cent). At the same time, almost one out of seven (13.5 per cent) bribes paid serve no specific immediate purpose for the businesses paying them, suggesting that these are "sweeteners" given to public officials to "groom" them for future interactions in the interest of the company. Only 2.2 per cent of the businesses who paid bribes had reported bribery incidents in the 12 months prior to the survey to official authorities in Albania, which suggests that businesses often feel obliged to participate in bribery. This is also reflected in the main reasons cited for not reporting bribery: "giving gifts to public officials is common practice" (36.2 per cent) and "it is pointless to report it as nobody would care" (23.6 per cent). Bribery in the private sector not only comprises bribes paid by businesses to public officials, it also takes place between businesses themselves in order to secure business transactions. Though lower than the prevalence of bribery between the private and public sector, at 3.7 per cent the prevalence of business-to-business bribery indicates that the practice does exist in Albania. This type of corruption is not to be confused with normal marketing or public relations activities, in that it specifically aims, through illegal means, to breach the integrity of the bribe-taker in exchange for a bribe. Less than 0.1 per cent of bribe-paying bribes in the survey reported such business-to business bribery incidents to relevant authorities. Some 3.3 per cent of business representatives decided not to make a major investment in the 12 months prior to the survey due to the fear of having to pay bribes to obtain requisite services or permits, thus the impact of bribery on business activity can be substantial. The consequences of other more conventional crimes on a business's property and economic activities can also be considerable, both in terms of direct costs stemming from physical damage and indirect costs in the form of insurance premiums, security expenditure and lost investment opportunities. For instance, 5.8 per cent of businesses in Albania fall victim to burglary in a year and such businesses are victimized an average of 1.9 times in that period. The annual prevalence rate for fraud by outsiders (4.8 per cent) in the private sector is also significant, as is the average number of times businesses affected fall victim to this crime (2.8). The prevalence rate of vandalism is 1.6 per cent, with businesses being victimized an average of 1.6 times a year. In addition, the prevalence rate of motor vehicle theft (MVT) is 0.5 per cent of all car owning businesses, with victims suffering an average of 1.6 incidents. Moreover, over the past 12 months 0.5 per cent of all businesses in Albania fell victim to extortion, a crime that can be linked to organized criminal groups. In marked contrast to corruption, a larger share of conventional crimes (on average, 49.3 per cent for five crime types) is reported to the police by businesses in Albania. While the majority of business representatives (67.7 per cent) consider that the crime risk for their company has remained stable in comparison to the previous 12 months, around one in twelve (8.6 per cent) think it is on the increase and 19.5 per cent on the decrease. The fear of crime plays an important role in the decision-making process of business leaders when it comes to making major investments. Although there are some differences by economic sector, on average 4.4 per cent of the entrepreneurs in Albania state that they did not make a major investment in the previous 12 months due to the fear of crime. Yet while about 88.8 per cent of businesses in Albania use at least one protective security system against crime, only 18.5 per cent have any kind of insurance against the economic cost of crime. Together corruption and other forms of crime place a considerable burden on economic development in Albania. Putting in place more and better targeted measures for protecting businesses against crimes, as well as for preventing corruption (such as effective internal compliance measures and other policies concerning corruption) could make that burden considerably lighter. Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2014. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2014 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/corruption/Albania_Business_Corruption_2013_EN.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Albania Keywords: Bribes Shelf Number: 132258 |
Author: Brunovskis, Anette Title: Reframing trafficking prevention: Lessons from a "Positive Deviance" approach Summary: This study discusses our piloting of a project to prevent human trafficking utilizing the positive deviance approach. For this pilot project, NEXUS Institute and Fafo partnered with the Albanian anti-trafficking NGO Different and Equal (D&E), thereby bringing together both research and practice in collaboratively developing and implementing this project. Our interest in the positive deviance approach emerged from learning about its previous application in the prevention of trafficking of girls into the sex industry in Indonesia. Having conducted research on trafficking in many different countries and regions, one of our general observations over time has been that what works in one context may not be equally successful elsewhere. We were, therefore, interested to see if this approach (positive deviance) could potentially be used more broadly in this case in another geographical, social and economic environment, as well as adapted to adult trafficking victims and victims of trafficking for labor as well as sexual exploitation. Details: Oslo: Fafo, 2015. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Fafo-report 2015:21: Accessed August 5, 2015 at: https://nexushumantrafficking.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/reframing-trafficking-prevention-lessons-from-pd-approach-brunovskis-surtees-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Albania Keywords: Forced Labor Shelf Number: 136340 |
Author: Vurmo, Gjergji Title: Religious Radicalism and Violent Extremism in Albania Summary: This study has collected, generated, and analyzed data on the phenomenon of religious radicalization and violent extremism with the aim of informing policymaking and stakeholders involved in addressing this phenomenon and the challenges interrelated with it. The research methodology approaches the identification and comprehensive analysis of the context by employing a variety of sources to understand the extent and relevance of several factors that enable or fuel religious radicalization and forms of violent extremism. These factors and 'drivers' are often combined with one another and interact with the context through various forms. However, the list of drivers analyzed in this study is not exhaustive, because in different contexts and times the phenomenon of religious radicalization and violent extremism may be fueled by other factors. During the research period (September 2014 - May 2015), a wide range of official, academic and other reliable sources of data was examined. In addition, a considerable number of actors have been involved in the preparatory phase of the study as well as in the fieldwork to generate data and to conduct the survey and interviews with key informants and focus groups. The entire framework of the research methodology, the findings, the conclusions, and the recommendations drawn in this study have been subjected to validation process to ensure quality, objectivity, compliance with the Albanian context, and inclusive approach based on the data. The IDM study finds that, while religious radicalization in Albania is in its early phase, lack of attention and inclusion in addressing 'push' or enabling factors may serve to aggravate the phenomenon. The study sheds light on the inactivity of most state institutions, particularly those outside the security domain, and of non-state actors in addressing and preventing religious radicalization. The phenomenon of religious radicalization may be further developed due to the lack of contextual cooperation between non-security state authorities and leaders of religious communities on the prevention of the phenomenon. The religious radical groups' agenda may be facilitated and favored by the inexistence of civil society in remote rural areas creating a big gap with regard to "safeguarding" activities on religious radicalization and violent extremism. The broad support of the communities of religious believers to the liberal tradition of faith, religious institutions, and to the values of religious harmony should not serve as an excuse for state and non-state actors' inactivity. On the other hand, misinterpretation of the phenomenon and minimization of its relevance or its identification with consequences (mainly in the security aspect) lead to the wrong approach and eventual counter-productivity of the effects of institutional response. Religious radicalization (as a process) and violent extremism (as a result) are enabled, fueled and/or shaped by a rich array of factors and drivers, which operate in a particular country context at both macro (societal) and micro (individual / group) level. Details: Tirana: Institute for Democracy and Mediation, 2015. 246p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: http://pasos.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Religious-Radicalism-Albania-web-final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Albania Keywords: Radical Groups Shelf Number: 137021 |
Author: Dyrmishi, Arjan Title: Police Integrity and Corruption in Albania Summary: This publication treats corruption in the State Police in Albania and the need to strengthen integrity of the institution of the Police as a means to reduce corruption. During the years of transition, corruption has surfaced as one of the major problems of governance in Albania. The data show that corruption is still high and prevalent. The measures undertaken over the last decade to address this problem through constant reforms and by adopting or reviewing the legislation on conflict of interests, by limiting the immunity of politicians and judiciary, or to better address the financing of political parties have produced no steady effects, indicating that corruption has been resistant to these measures. The police have been quite exposed to the threat in this environment of widespread corruption, due to the fact that the police are one of the major law enforcement institutions to investigate corruption. In this context, police corruption has also constituted one of the causes of the prevailing corruption in other sectors. Similar to other sectors, corruption of police in Albania has been widespread and the police are perceived by the public as one of the institutions with the highest level of corruption in the country. Irrespective of efforts made to address this phenomenon among the police, principally through amendments to the legislation and enhancement of institutional capacities, results indicate that police corruption is still persistent. In light of this context, this publication seeks to bring to the attention of policymakers, senior police leaders and officers, other stakeholders, and public at large the problem of police corruption and the particular importance of the fight against this phenomenon among the police. Its main goal is to contribute to the improvement of the anticorruption measures by acquiring a better knowledge of the police corruption and the factors that drive or control it. Details: Tirana, Albania: Institute for Democracy and Mediation, 2014. 226p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2015 at: http://idmalbania.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Integriteti_dhe_korrupsioni_web_ENG.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Albania Keywords: Police Corruption Shelf Number: 137035 |
Author: Mai, Nick Title: The Psycho-Social Trajectories of Albanian and Romanian 'Traffickers' Summary: This report will summarise the results of a recent (2008) pilot research undertaken in Italy and Albania on the psycho-social profile of men involved in international sex work as agents. By drawing on original research material - 34 in depth interviews with international sex work agents from Albania and Romania - the report will analyse the socio-cultural underpinnings of their life trajectories and migratory projects, with particular reference to the way these impacted on their specific involvements in the international sex industry. The findings of the research problematise the Manichaean way in which the trafficking paradigm explains migrants' involvement in the international industry according to a polarised scenario of victims (women) and exploiters (men). They also point to the necessity for future research and social interventions to explore the socio-economic, cultural and affective underpinnings of people's modes of involvement in the international sex industry, including when a woman is managed by a man. The research evidence highlights the existence of a separation between trafficking and the involvement of migrant workers in the international sex industry. The variety of life trajectories and experiences gathered show clearly how extreme forms of exploitation and abuse are a specific and increasingly marginal outcome of the nexus between migration and the international sex industry, rather than the reality for the majority of migrants. The research findings show that there is a high degree of fluidity and ambivalence within the relations between the men and women involved. They underline individual and socio-economic aspects of vulnerability and resilience which could inform the basis for more efficient initiatives of social intervention. By engaging with the life histories of migrant men working as agents in the international sex industry, the research embeds them within wider socio-economic and cultural transformations. Selling sex abroad became relatively 'normalised' in specific sociocultural and economic settings 'at home' and emerged as a way to both challenge and reproduce existing gender and class based limitations to social mobility. The findings of the research highlight the need to engage with the individual mix of vulnerability and resilience of each migrant involved in international sex work. They also question the usefulness of profiling when understanding the diverse life experiences of people working in the international sex industry, whose life choices reflect ambivalences and contradictions which are shared with the societies of origin and of destination brought together by their migratory journeys. Details: London: Institute for the Study of European Transformation - ISET, London Metropolitan University, 2010. 56p. Source: Internet Resource; ISET Working Paper 17: Accessed January 27, 2016 at: https://metranet.londonmet.ac.uk/fms/MRSite/Research/iset/Working%20Paper%20Series/WP17%20N%20Mai.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Albania Keywords: Human Trafficking Shelf Number: 137689 |
Author: Zhilla, Fabian Title: Organised Crime Threat Assessment in Albania Summary: This study focuses on the organized crime activities in Albania, as well as those conducted by Albanian criminal networks in the region and beyond. The study analyses organized crime activities such as trafficking in persons, illicit drugs and arms, smuggling of migrants, extortion, contract killings, organized cybercrime and money laundering. In some cases, so as to be able to clearly identify them, comparisons were made between various criminal activities and groups, despite the difficulties encountered with resources and the method applied. Various sources are used (both primary and secondary), including national official reports, and European and inter- national agencies fighting organized crime. In addition, 44 interviews were conducted with experts that have a direct or indirect relation with the fight against organized crime, for instance, serious crime judges, prosecutors, lawyers, investigative journalists, civil society representatives and experts of organized cyber-crime. Details: Tirana, Albania: Open Society Foundation for Albania, 2015. 122p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2016 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280741426_Organised_Crime_Threat_Assessment_in_Albania Year: 2015 Country: Albania Keywords: Cybercrime Shelf Number: 138190 |
Author: Cami, Ola Title: Community Policing in Albania: 2007-2015 Summary: This Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) study offer the first analysis of how well the Albanian State Police and local government institutions have performed in an effort to establish consolidated and mutual cooperation. The report comes nine years since the adoption of legislation outlining a new police strategy for Albania, and looks at how the problems and concerns of the local communities have been institutionally fed into the policing system, how effective the selected mechanisms have been in strengthening this cooperation, to what extent this collaboration has worked, and what major problems have hindered the process. This study seeks to contribute to the efforts of appraising the implementation of Community Policing in Albania. It focuses on both the evaluation of the processes of interaction of the Albanian State Police and local government as well as the outcome of this interaction, namely the Yearly Regional Police Strategies. Both processes and outputs are examined in terms quantity and quality. Details: Tirana, Albania: Institute for Democracy and Mediation, 2016. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2016 at: http://idmalbania.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Community-Policing-English.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Albania Keywords: Community Policing Shelf Number: 139246 |
Author: Baker, Jo Title: Conditions for Women in Detention in Albania: Needs, Vulnerabilities and Good Practices Summary: What are the particular needs, issues, risks and vulnerabilities that face imprisoned women across the world? What challenges and promising practices are common in their management? And where do these practices fall in relation to international standards? These questions lie at the heart of DIGNITY's research into conditions for women in detention in four countries - of which this Albania country study is one part. The management of women in Albania's prison system has shown growing consideration for their special needs. Until recently this was not systematic, but reflected in the work of enlightened officials in the prison system, and NGOs. However in 2014 the State made a commendable series of gender-sensitive amendments to the prison law, and transferred all female detainees permanently from a substandard and much-criticised pre-detention facility to the country's only prison facility for women. DIGNITY's visit to this prison in 2013, governed by its former director, revealed good practices. Findings here suggest that when gender-sensitive staff can support female inmates emotionally, reduce trauma and stigma, treat health issues, and connect inmates with their families and special services, then morale will likely be higher, rights better protected, and the chances of rehabilitation greater. Importantly, DIGNITY found outreach efforts being made by staff to the families of inmates, which responds to the often-greater need and challenge of detained women to contact the outside world, particularly their children. We found preventive healthcare and education that addressed the often-lower levels of health knowledge and access to care in women's backgrounds. Other significant findings included willingness by the administration to open the prison to the community outside of its walls in order to help combat the harmful effects of stigma, isolation and abandonment among detainees (as summarized in the section, What Matters Most). Each of these responses addresses an important provision in the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), although they were not all implemented systematically or protected as law or policy. However, the facility faces significant infrastructure and resource challenges, particularly now that it also houses pre-trial detainees, and in this respect it is considered by staff and NGOs to be among the worst in the penal system in certain respects. Hygiene facilities are inadequate, and living quarters are run-down and lack the space, ventilation and heat required by international standards. Although inmates can train and work, they are not equally remunerated, and the very low rates of pay place them and their dependents in a vulnerable position on release. The over-use of pre-trial detention for low-risk offenders, which often stretches to months if not years, is also of serious concern. Finally, the practice of regularly redistributing or removing prison staff, at all levels, as happened after the 2013 General Election, arbitrarily interrupts relationships, trainings and programmes that have been tailored to a particularly vulnerable population, and may well as a result, do harm. This requires further consideration. Details: Copenhagen: Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), 2015. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: DIGNITY Publication Series on Torture and Organised Violence no. 10: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066108/pubserieswid10.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Albania Keywords: Female Inmates Shelf Number: 139428 |
Author: Jashari, Dalina Title: Challenges of Local Government Units in the Fight Against Corruption: An Assessment of the Anti-Corruption System in 20 Municipalities of Albania Summary: This Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) report assesses the current capacities and preparedness of local-government units (LGUs) in the fight against corruption and identification of current capacities and knowledge of CSOs as regards their contribution to good governance at local level. The first section provides an overview of the country's legal framework, which sets the vision and regulates the fight against corruption at local level. Two other sections of this report provide an outline of the availability of instruments established by 20 targeted municipalities to fight corruption and increase/enable citizens' participation in decision-making. In addition, in terms of human and management resources, these sections assess the needs of both LGUs and local CSOs to improve their efforts to combat corruption at the local level. The report was published in the framework of the "CIVILISC Civil Society Instruments against Corruption" Project, which aims to empower and develop capacities of civil society in small/medium municipalities to promote good governance and fight corruption. This assessment concludes the first phase of the project and contributes to its subsequent capacity development phase as it lays the foundations for designing the relevant, evidence-based and effective CSO capacity development. The data and information obtained in the assessment will also set the baseline for future continuous monitoring and evaluation of anti-corruption efforts undertaken by the LGUs. Details: Tirana, Albania: Institute for Democracy and Mediation, 2016. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://pasos.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/LGU-Anticorruption-English.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Albania Keywords: Corruption Shelf Number: 140363 |
Author: Zhilla, Fabian Title: Organised crime risk assessment in Albania: Executive summary Summary: This study focuses on the organised crime activities in Albania, as well as those conducted by Albanian criminal networks in the region and beyond. The study analyses organised crime activities such as trafficking in persons, illicit drugs and arms, smuggling of migrants, extortion, contract killings, organised cybercrime and money laundering. In some cases, so as to be able to clearly identify them, comparisons were made between various criminal activities and groups, despite the difficulties encountered with resources and the method applied. Various sources are used (both primary and secondary), including national official reports, and European and international agencies fighting organised crime. In addition, 44 interviews were conducted with experts that have a direct or indirect relation with the fight against organised crime, for instance, serious crime judges, prosecutors, lawyers, investigative journalists, civil society representatives and experts of organised cyber-crime. The total duration of recorded interviews is 24 hours and 12 minutes. Our findings and the opinions of the interviewees suggest that the elements that have stimulated organised crime in the country are of a social, economic and political nature: - Transition from a totalitarian regime with a stringent policy on crime, to a fragile democracy with weak and unconsolidated institutions, and staff without sufficient education and/or experience; - Chaotic situation post-1997 with the collapse of the pyramid schemes; - Institutions that are subject to reform, with staff turnover due to changes in government; - Lack of institutional independence, and endemic corruption in the police and law-enforcement agencies; - Albania's favourable geographical position - with drug-producing and supplier countries such as Afghanistan and Turkey in the East, and high-consumption countries in the West; - International nature of organised crime and the impact of globalisation; - Lack of political stability in the country for more than two decades; - Weak economy with high levels of unemployment and insufficient earnings per capita (one of the lowest in the continent); - Dismantling of social structures, adversely affecting the family as the nucleus; - Continuous immigration waves, importing experiences and criminal connections obtained abroad; - Support from members of the Albanian diaspora; - Conflicts in the region, with 'golden opportunities' to obtain money from the trafficking of arms, smuggling activities, etc; - Use of technology and advanced communication tools Details: Tirana, Albania: Open Society Foundation for Albania, 2016. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: https://www.osfa.al/sites/default/files/press_permbledhje_english_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Albania Keywords: Cybercrime Shelf Number: 140410 |
Author: Dordevic, Sasa Title: The Citizens' Opinion of the Police Force: The Results of the Public Opinion Survey Conducted in Albania Summary: The most trusted institutions in Albania are the media and the education system. Slightly more than half (56%) of the respondents trust the police, while 43% have no trust in this institution. The least trusted institution is the Parliament (25%), followed by the judiciary (33%), customs (34%), the prosecutorsā offices (34%) and the Anti-Corruption Agency (35%). Corruption remains one of the major challenges of the governance in Albania, regardless of the existence of various anti-corruption institutions and measures. Police corruption is still persistent, even though the survey results show improvement of public trust in the police. The concern is that the important pillars in the fight against corruption are also perceived by the respondents as the most corrupt institutions in Albania: judiciary (79%), prosecution (76%), and the Parliament (75%). Corruption is least widespread within the media and non-governmental organisations. Despite the respondents' prevailing opinion of police being corrupt, it is worth noting that 56% of the respondents believe that employment in the police is gained through public competitions, knowledge and capabilities of candidates. However, Influential friends and political ties form a shortcut to police employment for 71% of the respondents, which is a result that should cause concern in police officials. More than half (55%) of the respondents state that the police act mostly as a service to the citizens, while one fourth of the respondents (25%) who believe the opposite. The data show a high level of police politicisation: 40% of the respondents believe that politicians have complete influence over the operational work of the police force. An additional 39% share the opinion that politicians influence police work to a great extent. The data also show a contradiction in the citizenās perception on the merit-based recruitment of police officers and the high level of political influence on policing. Traffic police force is considered the most corrupted police unit, (64%), followed by Ministerās closest associates (59%), border police and criminal police (54%) respectively. This indicates that the respondents associate police corruption mainly with bribery, despite the diversity of the forms of police corruption. Moreover, when asked about the institutions to which respondents would first report a case of police corruption, more than half (58%) said that they would report it to the local police station and the media. With regard to the impunity culture prevailing in Albania, about one fifth (23%) of the respondents suggest strict punishment of offenders, and another fifth (22%) point out that it is necessary to punish a greater number of high ranking police officers. More than one third of the respondents (36%) indicate that the central Government should lead the fight against corruption in the police organisation, assisted by other proposed institutions. Less than half of the respondents (43%) consider that non-governmental organisations should take active part in the fight against corruption, including collaboration with the state institutions favoured by 26% of the respondents. Details: Belgrade: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, 2016. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://pointpulse.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/POINTPULSE-2016-ALB-ENG.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Albania Keywords: Police Corruption Shelf Number: 140488 |
Author: International Centre for Migration Policy Development Title: Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings and Organised Crime -- Phase 2 (THB/IFS/2): Assessment of the National and Transnational Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking in Albania Summary: The following assessment of Albaniaās capacity to refer (potential) victims of trafficking was drafted in the framework of the project Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings and Organised Crime ā Phase 2 (THB/IFS/2) implemented by ICMPD (International Centre for Migration Policy Development) in cooperation with EF (Expertise France) and FIIAPP (International Foundation of Administration and Public Policies of Spain). The project targets Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Pakistan and Turkey and is implemented in the framework of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), which succeeds the Instrument for Stability (IfS) and is one of the key external assistance instruments that enable the European Union (EU) to take a lead in helping to prevent and respond to actual or emerging crises around the world. Building on the achievements of the project Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings ā Phase 1 implemented in Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova and Turkey from January 2013 to September 2014, the project seeks to contribute to the prevention of and fight against transnational organised crime, particularly in relation to trafficking in human beings (THB), by providing the participating countries with policy, legal and technical expertise and knowledge. The 36-month THB/IFS/2 project was launched in September 2014 and applies a three-step approach to enhance counter-trafficking measures in the participating countries as follows: Component 1: Support for the setting up or improvement of victim-centred referral systems ļ· Research to assess the participating countriesā current capacity to refer (potential) victims of trafficking; ļ· Revise/develop and improve the national and transnational referral mechanism in each participating country; ļ· Training for relevant stakeholders in the participating countries on the revised national and transnational referral mechanisms. Component 2: Capacity building on THB data collection, analysis and information sharing (tailor-made follow-up actions to the projectās first phase) ļ· Research to assess the needs of the two new project countries Albania and Pakistan, which did not participate in the first project phase, in the areas of data collection, analysis, information exchange, law enforcement cooperation and awareness on THB; ļ· Continue and consolidate previous activities carried out in the projectās first phase in the areas of data collection, analysis, information exchange, law enforcement cooperation and awareness on THB and replicate activities, when relevant, in Albania and Pakistan. Component 3: Transnational partnerships: platform for improved coordination, cooperation and policy coherence ļ· Increase the capacity of anti-trafficking stakeholders in the project countries to cooperate and coordinate with their relevant counterparts in EU Member States through targeted expert support in the framework of transnational workshops. The following assessment is part of project component 1, which aims at enhancing national and transnational referral mechanisms for (potential) victims of trafficking in human beings in the six project countries according to international human rights standards and harmonized procedures. Applying a participatory multi-agency approach as described in ICMPDās Guidelines for the Development of a Transnational Referral Mechanism for Trafficked Persons and Cooperation Beyond Borders: Development of Transnational Referral Mechanisms for Trafficked Persons and taking into account the lessons learnt from establishing TRMs in SouthEastern Europe in the period 2006-2012 in the framework of the USAID-funded Programme to Support the Development of Transnational Referral Mechanisms for Trafficked Persons in South-Eastern Europe and follow-up initiative Enhancing Transnational Cooperation on Trafficking Cases in South-Eastern Europe (TRM-II), this component builds on already existing structures in the project countries as well as identified good practices in EU Member States and focuses on the revision/development of standardised procedures for victim referral. An assessment of the needs and capacity of each country participating in the project with regard to victim services and referral structures currently in place is the first activity under component 1, followed by an update/revision of the countriesā referral procedures based on the assessment results. Where referral procedures do not exist, steps will be taken to create them in accordance with international human rights standards focusing on victimsā needs. Antitrafficking stakeholders involved in the referral of (potential) victims will then re-evaluate the currently existing procedures in a series of national and transnational multi-agency workshops. The re-evaluation shall be guided by the principle of who needs to do what when and how, and will define an improved set of standardized procedures to be implemented by all relevant actors. With regard to Albania, the information gathered and analysed in the framework of the assessment was taken from the following sources: ļ· desk research, using data from already existing reports1 ; ļ· interviews with anti-trafficking stakeholders conducted in 2011 during an assessment carried out in the framework of the USAID-funded project Enhancing Transnational Cooperation on Trafficking Cases in South-Eastern Europe (TRM-II) implemented by ICMPD in 2010-2012; ļ· information gathered by the Project Coordinator and Lead Expert, Mr. Steve Harvey, during his assessment mission to Albania on 20-23 February 2015; ļ· Input provided by local NGO representatives on issues related to victimsā rights in response to a questionnaire developed and disseminated by ICMPD in spring 2015. In line with the objectives of the above-mentioned THB/IFS/2 project, the purpose of the assessment was to assess Albaniaās capacity to refer (potential) victims at the national and transnational level as well as available victim support services, including a review of the rights of victims. The results and recommendations of this analysis are intended to serve as guidance for the relevant local stakeholders and experts supporting them in improving victim referral in Albania. Details: Vienna: ICMPD, 2015. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://www.icmpd.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NRM-TRM_assessment_Albania_final__1_.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Albania Keywords: Human Trafficking Shelf Number: 140489 |
Author: GRETA (Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings Title: Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Albania Summary: The Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published today its second evaluation on Albania. The report assesses developments since the publication of GRETA's first evaluation report on Albania in December 2011 concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. According to the report, progress has been made in a number of areas. The legal framework for combating trafficking in human beings has been further developed, in line with GRETA's recommendations, and the penalties have been made harsher. Further, legal provisions on the granting of a recovery and reflection period and residence permits to victims of trafficking have been adopted. GRETA also welcomes the efforts made in strengthening the involvement of relevant stakeholders in anti-trafficking action, providing training and raising general awareness. However, there are a number of areas which require improvement, according to the report. GRETA calls on Albania to take further steps to prevent human trafficking, including by combating gender based violence and discrimination, and discouraging demand for the services of trafficked persons for all forms of exploitation. The Albanian authorities should also step up their efforts to prevent and detect cases of trafficking during border controls, paying particular attention to unaccompanied children. GRETA also urges the Albanian authorities to improve the identification of victims of trafficking, including by paying increased attention to detecting victims among irregular migrants and asylum seekers. The authorities are also asked to reinforce the proactive identification of child victims of trafficking, particularly among children in street situation, children in residential social care institutions and Roma children, and to introduce a procedure for identifying child victims among unaccompanied foreign children. Noting that no victim of trafficking has been paid compensation, GRETA urges the Albanian authorities to review the criminal and civil procedures on compensation from perpetrators, to seize and confiscate criminal assets generated by human trafficking, and to set up a state compensation scheme accessible to victims of trafficking. GRETA expresses concern about the rather low number of convictions for human trafficking and recommends developing further the specialisation of prosecutors and judges in order to ensure effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions. The report also points out that Albania must take action to ensure that full use is made of existing measures to protect victims of human trafficking from potential retaliation and intimidation before, during and after criminal proceedings. Details: Brussels: Council of Europe, 2016. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 4, 2017 at: https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=090000168065bf87 Year: 2016 Country: Albania Keywords: Child Trafficking Shelf Number: 140828 |
Author: International Organization for Migration Title: Strengthening responses to child trafficking and modern slavery: A Pilot Project to support foster carers looking after Albanian and Vietnamese unaccompanied children Summary: This project evaluation report reviews tools and activities piloted to build the capacity of foster carers to look after Albanian, Vietnamese and other unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the United Kingdom who are identified - or potential - victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. These include tools to inform young people about foster care in their own language, thereby reducing their vulnerability to going missing from care and being trafficked. Details: Geneva: IOM, 2019. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2019 at: https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/child_trafficking_modern_slavery.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Albania Keywords: Child Migrants Shelf Number: 155042 |
Author: Terre des hommes Title: Child Protection Measures for Children Below the Age of Criminal Responsibility who Are in Conflict With the Law in Albania Summary: The focus of this research study is on the child protection measures for children below the age of criminal responsibility who are in conflict with the law in Albania. This topic might not seem a new one because several research studies and analyses have already been conducted on this topic. One research study worth mentioning here is "A Research into the Current System for Children in Contact with the Law in Albania" which was commissioned by Terre des Hommes (Tdh) in 2015. This research study builds upon this and other such documents. The novelties of this research study rests with the recent developments in Albania regarding the comprehensive Justice Reform which was approved in 2016. This reform introduced substantial amendments to the legislation of the Albanian justice system, including the juvenile justice system. Furthermore this research study is in line with the goal of the MATRA-funded "Child Protection System Strengthening for Children in Conflict with the Law" project. The goal of this project is to support the development of the rule of law as it pertains to children in Ukraine, Georgia, Albania and Kosovo by improving the implementation of children's rights in the child protection and justice systems to ensure that children in conflict with the law are better protected. This means that the research and analyses, though conducted locally in Albania, aims to emphasis the compliance of the Albanian juvenile justice system with the international standards. Under the auspices of the project, and together with stakeholders from government organisations and civil society, a focus area has chosen in each country based on what is specifically needed in that country. In Albania it was decided that the focus would on the position of children in conflict with the law who are below the age of 14, the set minimum age of criminal responsibility. The hypothesis of this research study is: The Albanian legislative and policy framework on the rights of the children below the age of criminal responsibility who are in conflict with the law is de jure in compliance with international standards on juvenile justice. Further efforts are needed to ensure the child protection system functions effectively for children below the age of criminal responsibility. Inter-institutional cooperation, data collection and reporting mechanisms on child protection for this group of children should be improved. The approach of this research study is mostly a deductive one aiming and testing this theory. In other words the approach taken aims to describe the strengths and weaknesses of the child protection system and formulate recommendations on what measures are needed to improve the protection of the rights of children below the age of criminal responsibility who are in conflict with the law in practice. Details: Tirana, Albania: Terres des hommes Albania, The Author, 2019. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2019 at: https://childhub.org/en/system/tdf/library/attachments/study_child_protection_below_14_web.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=36052 Year: 2019 Country: Albania Keywords: Age of Responsibility Shelf Number: 155266 |
Author: Asylum Research Centre Foundation Title: Albania: Trafficked Boys and Young Men Summary: This report presents country-of-origin information (COI) on Albania specifically relating to trafficked boys and young men published between 1 January 2016 and 31 March 2019, as well as information generated by interviewing a range of stakeholders between December 2018 and March 2019. The reports aims also to fill the gap in the COI literature about the situation of Albanian boys and young men who are victims of trafficking and to contribute to a more informed debate about the situation. The report is also intended as a tool to assist legal practitioners and to help ensure that decision-makers consider all relevant material. Details: S.L.: Asylum Research Centre Foundation and Asylos, 2019. 318p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 10, 2019 at: https://childhub.org/en/system/tdf/library/attachments/23_may_albania_trafficking_of_boys_and_young_men.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=37221 Year: 2019 Country: Albania Keywords: Albania Shelf Number: 156365 |