Annual Report 2006 - 2007

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Tirana 2008

CHILDREN’S HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE OF ALBANIA - CRCA Defence for Children International – DCI Albania

QENDRA PER MBROJTJEN E TE DREJTAVE TE FEMIJEVE NE SHQIPERI - CRCA Mbrojtja Ndërkombëtare e Fëmijëve – DCI Seksioni i Shqipërisë

Mail address: P. O. Box 1738, Tirana / Albania; Tel / Fax: + 355 4 242264

Office address: Pall. Shallvareve, Vila mbrapa Mobile: + 355 69 32 95 301

Fushave te Tenisit, Kati 2, E-mail: crca@crca.org.al

Tirana / Albania www.crca.org.al

CRCA and the challenge of protecting children’s rights

in Albania

This Annual Report 2006-2007 is the sixth report that covers the work of CRCA, since the first time when the Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania started to publish its annual reports. Since then, many things have changed in Albania, whether for children or for CRCA.

Today we have a stronger organisation, widely recognised for its outstanding work for children and young people, our visibility and expertise, courage and stance on any issue related to protection of children and youth rights in Albania.

CRCA started in 1997. Since then the children and youth rights have been mainstreamed in the public policies of many public and private institutions. New child-rights governmental offices have been established, while politicians and public officials debate about children and youth issues. This change in mentality took years, but we are proud to have been among the first who have impacted such a change through dialogue, lobby and advocacy, capacity building and campaigning on behalf of children and young people.

Our work does not end here. Children and youth rights needs to move to their own path, meaning that we have to move our work closer to the local level, with local Governments and NGO’s who want to bring change to children and young people throughout Albania. We need to work more with families and communities, which still need to increase their knowledge about children and youth rights and how to deal with them in a way that is far from abuse and neglect.

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CRCA and the challenge of protection of children’s

rights in Albania

These past years have seen our cooperation with NGO’s increase further. CRCA is a major player in many NGO networks inside and outside Albania. CRCA is member of Defence for Children International, a global network of organisations working for protection of children and young people in conflict with the law.

Although we work for children and young people, this has not

stopped us to raise our voice women’s rights, free elections, human rights, minorities etc.

Few years ago our Constitution was reviewed and many

changes were approved by our Board of Directors. These changes provide for a clearer role of the boards and its members, functioning of the organisation and financial rules. We are one of few organisations in Albania that has a children and young peoples’ Board.

Meanwhile during 2006 we approved our new Strategic Plan.

The new Plan will take the organisation to a new path for the next 5 years. However the core values of the organisation will remain the same. We work to promote and guarantee that children and youth rights are widely respected in Albania.

Sincerely, S. Thornton Barkley Altin Hazizaj President of the Board Director of CRCA

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OUR MISSION STATEMENT

WE WORK:

- To guarantee that children and youth rights are fully respected;

- To protect children and youth rights throughout Albania;

- To develop the child and youth welfare;

- To increase child and youth participation at local and national level.

HOW?

- Through lobby and advocacy on behalf of children and young people;

- Policy and legislative improvement; - Capacity building for Government and NGO representatives; - Building successful models of care and protection services

for children and young people; - Networking with NGO’s and other social partners.

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The Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania

works for the implementation of the Convention on

the Rights of the Child and other child and youth

rights international standards.

WHO WE ARE

The Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania – CRCA is a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious and non-profit organisation with headquarters in the capital city, Tirana. CRCA was established in March 1997 in order to improve the situation of children and young people rights in Albania by speaking on their behalf.

CRCA Boards include: The Board of Directors, the Board of Advisers

and Children’s Board The CRCA Board of Directors has seven members with great knowledge and expertise on children, women and youth rights.

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CRCA VISION AND

MOTIVATION

The vision of CRCA on children’s rights in Albania takes into consideration the general development of economical, political, social, and moral issues in the country, which directly affect children and their rights. The children in Albania are not only the future but also the present of the country. Without proper protection and development of children and their rights, the future of the country is unsecured.

CRCA motivation is based on the motto:

“Working together all of us can bring a prosperous world to children and young

people”

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PROGRAMME

AND

ACTIVITIES

2006-2007

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LIST OF CRCA PROGRAMMES

AND ACTIVITIES

The Rights of the Child a Democratic Right. Stop Child Labour and Child Trafficking Programme. Juvenile Justice in Albania.

Tirana Child Helpline.

Lobby and advocacy for children’s rights in Albania Promotion of democracy through political parties in Albania. Lobby and Advocacy for and on behalf of children / National Campaigns

Monitoring & Reporting of Human Rights.

Networking.

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THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD A DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

Funded by: The Olof Palme International Centre and SIDA

In partnership with: Information and Research Centre for Children’s

Rights in Albania

Aims and Objectives Exchange of information from / to NGO’s, governmental authorities,

experts on children issues and children rights; Coordination of information between partners in order to facilitate the

work of NGO’s, INGO’s and other institutions for children; Increase child participation in media and ensure their representation and

respect by mass media in Albania; Strengthen the capacities of local NGO’s on management issues and

children rights. Provide facilities and administrative assistance to child-oriented NGO’s

and their members. Results More than 140 editions of the Electronic Newsletter “Help the Children”

were prepared and issued; Six issues of Children’s Newspaper “Children’s Voice” were produced

for and by children. Child-oriented NGO Database in Albania made available . More than 60 representatives of child-oriented NGOs in Albania trained

on the Issues and Convention on the Rights of the Child during the Children’s Rights Academy.

More than 30 children from Tirana Children’s Senate trained on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Four researches on Children’s Traffic Situation in Albania; Children living with HIV/AIDS, Children’s Rights Academy and The situation of Woman and Girls in Albania were prepared and published in 4000 copies.

Facilities for NGO’s such as: a library, meeting room, Internet, printing and photocopying services etc made available daily.

Eight issues of the Review “For Children and Youth Rights in Albania” (Issues 23-30) in 8000 copies were published and distributed.

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THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD A

DEMOCRATIC RIGHT

Achievements

- CRCA and IRCCRA are the only and the largest information and resource centres for children and children’s rights in Albania. The Library, Internet services and other services offered by IRCCRA and CRCA, has made possible to children the application of their right to information and freedom of expression.

- CRCA and IRCCRA have been assisting more than 400 NGO’s, INGO’s, UN agencies and Governmental authorities in Albania with continuous information on child rights issues, activities and events on child rights in Albania and the world, funding possibilities, new partnerships etc.

- Child participation and child rights to freedom of expression have been increased by providing tools and means of exercise such as the preparation of Newspaper “Children’s Voice” by children and for children and the establishment of Children Senate.

- The Capacities of NGO’s and Governmental institutions in Albania have been strengthening on children rights, from the training of 60 representatives of NGO’s and Government.

- There is an increase of exchange of information among the partners, despite the fact that most of the NGO’s and Governmental institutions they require further training on how to deal with information.

- CRCA is influencing the policies of the Albanian Government on children and their rights through provisions of information, exchange of research and data, policy papers, statements etc.

- The Information Centre is also influencing on the policies and programmes of the NGO’s in Albania through the provisions of information on child rights situation in the country, gaps in programming and needs of Albanian children.

- Finally, IRCCRA is influencing the work and ethics of Media in Albania, since the centre has achieved a great degree of cooperation with the national media and IRCCRA is their contact point of information on children rights in the country.

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THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD A

DEMOCRATIC RIGHT

Publications and Informing Materials

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STOP CHILD LABOUR AND CHILD

TRAFFICKING PROGRAMME

Funded by: Olof Palme International Center

Aims

The main aims of this programme are:

Progressive elimination of child labour in Albania;

Provide non-formal education, leisure activities and psycho-social assistance to child labourers, children victims of trafficking and children who drop out of school;

Strengthen the capacities of governmental authorities and non-governmental organisations at national level to fight against child labour and child trafficking.

Increase awareness among Albanian public, the Government and civil society at large on child labour and its worst forms.

Activities

- Children’s Clubs Against Child Labour in Tirana (2)

- Public Awareness Campaign;

- Review of the Albanian legislation and policies on child labour and its worst forms;

- Training Courses on Child Labour and its worst forms for the Albanian Government and NGO’s;

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STOP CHILD LABOUR AND CHILD

TRAFFICKING PROGRAMME

Achievements

Two Children’s Clubs Against Child

Labour have been operated in 2 suberb areas of Tirana,

More than 500 children have been prevented from entering in the formal and non-formal labour market;

National Forum on Child Labour and trafficking was organised;

Children’s protest under the slogan “Stop Child Labour” was organised in Tirana;

A Public Hearing in the Albanian Parliament was organized;

A gap analysis and a policy paper on child labour and street children in Albania was prepared and issued to all relevant authorities;

More than 500 families have been informed about labour and social provisions;

More than 40 senior officials of local and central government and NGO’s have been trained and are able to fight against child labour and child trafficking in Albania;

Child participation has increased dramatically in the schools where the programme has been implemented;

More than 100 thousand members of public have been made aware about child labour and the negative aspects of it.

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LOBBY AND ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN’S

RIGHTS IN ALBANIA PROGRAMME Funded by: Canada Fund

Results

The capacities of 20 representatives of child rights and human rights organisations strengthened on lobby and advocacy;

Draft-law for protection of children from abuse, neglect and exploitation prepared;

2 consultation round-tables on the draft-law organised with the participation of around 40 representatives of major national NGO’s in Albania;

Draft-law presented to the Albanian Parliament for approval;

The public hearing on children’s situation in Albania has taken place with the participation of 30 representatives of the Albanian Government, Parliament and NGO’s;

100 copies of a short report on the situation of children’s rights in Albania complied.

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Aims and Objectives

To improve the situation of

children’s rights in Albania while

reinforcing their protection and

raising awareness on specific

areas of concern such as child

labor, begging, exploitation of

children and child abuse;

To build capacities of the

Albanian NGO’s on lobby and

advocacy work for children’s

rights;

To prepare, consult and

present a draft law for protection

of children from abuse, neglect

and exploitation;

To organize an Open Public

Hearing with the Albanian

Parliament on the situation of

children’s rights in Albania.

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMME

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•Supporting the current reforms in the

administration of juvenile justice initiated by the

Ministry of Justice in Albania with the help

of UNICEF-t;

•Impact policy and legislative

change, including the preparation of the

Children's Code, as a way of

creating management systems for juvenile justic

e Albania and models of care for children and

youth in conflict with the law.

Continued support for capacity

building measures for the justice system and

prisons in Albania with the main focus

of respecting the rights of children and

juveniles in conflict with the law.

Compilation of studies and reports on juvenile

justice, juvenile delinquency ,

alternative measures, with particular focus

on policies and legislation. The

research should help improve

the current situation faced by juveniles in

detention while it shares a list

of recommendations on how to construct a

system of care and protection of children and

youth as victims and as perpetrators of crimes.

Improved service and standards of care and

protection of children and juveniles in conflict

with the law. CRCA supports alternative non-

formal educational services,

psychosocial and recreational, but with the

ultimate goal that these services be

delivered and implemented by the

penitentiary system in Albania.

JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMME

Research into factors of juvenile delinquency in Albania and current legislation for the

administration of juvenile justice

Funded by: UNICEF

- The Research "Juveniles Justice in Albania" makes an analysis of the system of administration of juvenile justice and the situation of juveniles in conflict. This research seeks recognition through legislation, structures, the Juvenile Justice system, to enable the effective protection of minors criminally prosecuted and those that can not be processed due to age but must be addressed through educational measures.

- The Research “Juvenile delinquency in Albania" makes an analysis of causes and factors of the phenomenon. This is the first ever research aiming to conduct an analysis of the current situation regarding child and juvenile criminality. Also it is a document that comes to the aid of experts to understand the causes and possibilities of preventing the phenomenon, parents and teachers to be recognized fully aware of the concerns of children and of course the children themselves.

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TIRANA CHILD HELP LINE

Financed by: European Union and Embassy of Netherlands

Aims and objectives

To strengthen the capacities of local and national institutions to provide assistance to children victims of maltreatment, abuse and neglect, especially young girls, through good governance measures in the city of Tirana.

To establish a successful model of child care and protection in Tirana, which can be replicated by the Government or civil society organisations in other cities / regions of Albania.

To lobby and advocate with local and national institutions, including major civil society actors, for the improvement of public services to children victims of maltreatment in Tirana.

To increase the awareness of public institutions, NGO’s and public at large on the issue of child abuse and neglect, including the respect for children’s rights by public institutions and families in Albania.

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TIRANA CHILD HELP LINE

Financed by: BE and Embassy of Nederland

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Results

related to Lobby and Advocacy

Establishment of the Advisory Group for the Child Protection

System reform in Tirana;

8 regular Planning Workshops / Stakeholder meetings have taken

place;

8 public lobby/ advocacy meetings with the participation of more

then 60 representatives of the Albanian Government, Parliament,

Municipality and Child Protection Units have been organised;

12 journalists made aware and keep writing on child abuse and

neglect;

Code of Conduct prepared;

related to Capacity Building

Capacities of 150 representatives of public institutions, NGO’s and

child rights experts strengthened through the organisation of 8

training courses;

Peer to Peer Educators group established with the participation of

20 children from Tirana.

related to Public Awareness

4000 copies of awareness materials (poster and leaflet) on child

maltreatment prepared, published and widely distributed;

15 awareness meetings in schools organised and awareness of

500 pupils, teachers and parents raised by the project;

National Workshop “Child Maltreatment in Albania” organised with

the participation of 30 representatives of public institutions and

NGO’s in Albania;

PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY AND GOOD

GOVERNANCE THROUGH POLITICAL

PARTIES IN ALBANIA

Funded by: Olof Palme International Center and SIDA

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PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY THROUGH

POLITICAL PARTIES IN ALBANIA

Funded by: Olof Palme International Center and SIDA

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The Programme “Promotion of democracy through political parties in

Albania” came as a necessity to work with the political parties for the

promotion of human rights, women, children and minority’s rights,

since Albania was holding parliamentary elections in July 2005. The

programme is very important for Albania, as human rights, women,

minority and children’s rights are often neglected or not respected by

political parties in Albania, once they are in Parliament and

Government. These concerns make us believe that civil society role is

to work with different social partners, including political parties, in

order to achieve a great deal of respect of children, women and

individuals in Albania.

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Aims and Objectives

• To strength the capacities and increase awareness on campaign strategies, electoral

process and participation in politics for women representatives from political parties in

Albania;

•To strength the capacities of young candidates for mayors and town councils from

different political parties, in order to have a higher representation and participation of

young people in politics.

•To strength the capacities of young representatives of both genders from all minority

groups in Albania, in order to increase minority participation on local issues and town

councils.

•To produce informing materials on women’s, youth and minorities role in politics.

•To organise open public debates to promote women and youth participation in politics.

•To prepare and make available a website tailored for the needs of participation women,

young people and minorities in local governance, politics and democratization process

of Albania.

•To increase cooperation with other similar actors in the region of South Eastern Europe,

by bringing to Albania similar experiences and practices, which have been applied

previously in Kosovo and Serbia etc.

Results

•95 women representatives of different political parties trained;

•80 young people from political parties candidates capacities strengthened;

•43 young people from minority organisations and groups trained on

political participation;

•Awareness raised at the level of political parties and public opinion at large

on women, young people and minorities participation on politics.

•4000 copies of awareness materials (leaflets) published and widely

distributed.

•4 Open Public Debates organized.

•Information on political participation of women, youth and minority issues

issued.

•Website on women, youth and minority participation in politics made

available •The Coalition for the Promotion of Women and Youth in Politics

established

LOBBY AND ADVOCACY FOR

CHILDREN IN ALBANIA

In partnership with: Coalition for Children’s Education

CAMPAIGNS

Education for All. This is a yearly campaign

organised all over the world, while in

Albania is leaded by CRCA. The

campaign aims to raise awareness

among public officials and

parliamentarians on making

education accessible to every child.

More than 13 thousand children and

teachers participated in the activities

of the campaign

.

Stop Child Labor and Exploitation in

Albania. CRCA and a number of

organizations that work

for / with children in and around

Tirana organize, peaceful

demonstrations and other

activities during

the 12 June, International Day

Against Child Labour, under

the slogan 'STOP CHILD

LABOUR IN ALBANIA'.

The aim of this campaign is to raise

awareness governmental institution,

NGOs and public opinion on the

phenomenon

of child labor and exploitation in

Albania, while lobby with

all civil society organisations to

demand the government to address

a fast and adequate response for

this negative phenomenon.,

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LOBBY AND ADVOCACY FOR

CHILDREN IN ALBANIA

Open Forum "The phenomenon of Labour and Child Trafficking in Albania" was organized by the CRCA, with the participation of representatives from central and local NGOs working with children as well as foreign agencies of the UN and other institutions. The aim was drafting a plan of action and cooperation to change the situation in 2007. The workshop "Children and domestic violence", was organized by the CRCA in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union, Tirane. The aim of this workshop was awareness of government institutions at central and local civil society, media and public on the issue the abuse of children in Albania. Open Forum "on the Participation of Youth, Women and Minorities in political processes and decision making", were organized by the CRCA in collaboration with the Political Forum of young people, women and minorities. These forums aimed awareness of political parties and politicians for the role and importance of participation of women, youth and minorities in politics.

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MONITORING & REPORTING OF HUMAN

RIGHTS

In partnership with: The Albanian Coalition for the Preparation

of Alternative Reports

- CEDAW SHADOW REPORT CEDAW Shadow Report on Albania, comes after months of

work of members of the Coalition, who based on their expertise reviewed the compliance of the Albanian legislation and policies with the standards set by Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, where Albania is a state party. The main aim of this report is to review the current situation of women and young girls rights in Albania and the implementation of CEDAW, in order to ensure a better protection of their rights. The Cedaw Shadow Report covers all areas of the Convention and provides information on the situation of women and girls rights in Albania, actions taken by the Government during 2003-2006, media coverage of the issue and a database of NGO's.

- CRC SHADOW REPORT The report comes as the result of several months the members

of the Coalition's work which, based n their expertise, analyzed the compatibility of legislation and policies with the standards set by the Convention on the Rights of the Child UN. The aim of the report is to monitor the current state of children's rights in Albania and the implementation of the CRC to provide a protection and better development of their rights in our country. Alternative report covers all parts of the Convention and provides information on the situation of children's rights in Albania, the actions taken by the Government during the years 2004-2007, conclusions and recommendations and a database of NGOs.

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PARTNERSHIPS AND

NETWORKING

During 2006-2007 the Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania continued to be an important actor nationally and regionally, since it became founding member or member of international or regional networks in Europe and South East Europe. This Networks include:

- Defence for Children International - DCI, is a major network of organisations working on the rights of the child in the world. CRCA became a full member of DCI in June 2005. Because of the membership in DCI, since 2006 CRCA will be recognised as Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania / DCI Albania Section.

- SEECRAN (South-East European Child Rights Action Network) in a network organisation based in Ljubljana, where CRCA is a founding member. CRCA also will promote the objectives and activities of SEECRAN in Albania through the National Coordinator and ACRN.

- Albanian Children’s Rights Network – ACRN is the major network of child-oriented NGO’s in Albania. CRCA is a founding member and the contact organisation for the network. The major outcome of this network is to prepare the Alternative Report to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

- Albanian Children’s Alliance – ACA, is another network of NGO’s in Albania working to mobilise and lobby for children established in 2000. CRCA is a founding member of ACA, however in 2001 it pulled out because of disagreement on the way the Alliance was managed and lack of activities for children. In 2004 CRCA was formally invited to join ACA. After CRCA reviewed its position was decided to attend the meetings of ACA. During the meeting of the General Assembly of ACA, CRCA was elected unanimously as a member of the National Steering Committee. CRCA also hosts and provides help to the ACA Tirana Branch.

- In the Balkan Human Rights Centre, CRCA is an active member of this network of human and child rights organisation, based in Bosnia. CRCA representatives have participated in many of the events and training organised by the network.

- Ecpat –International, CRCA is an active member of this network that aims to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. CRCA representatives have participated in many of the events and training organised by the network.

- Coalition for Promotion of Women, Youth and Minorities in Politics, is another network of NGO’s in Albania working to increase the partecipation of youth e women in politics, established in 2006. CRCA is a founding member of this coalition

- The Albanian Coalition for the Preparation of Alternative Reports The Coalition is comprised of major women rights, children and human rights NGO's in Albania, and was formed based on an open call from the Children's Human Rights Centre of Albania - CRCA.

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BUDGET

AND

FINANCES

BUDGET AND FINANCES

CRCA Budget Distribution 2006-2007

The Rights of the Child a Democratic

Right

CLPO

Child Labour and Trafficking

The Sky is for All

CRC Training Programme

Youth Employment

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The major donors of the Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania are various, and

most of them are foreign governmental and non-governmental organisations, or

national foundations working in Albania. The major donors during 2004-2005 were:

The Olof Palme International Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands,

Defence for Children International, Soros Foundation in Albania, Rigione Emilia

Romagna, GTZ Germany and German Education and Training Institute.

The Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania does not receive any financial aid

from the Government of Albania at central or local level. This makes it difficult the

funding of programmes related to children rights and social services, since most of

the financial contributions have to come from foreign sources. CRCA does not

undertake income generating activities.

From 2003 all CRCA programmes are audited and comply with national and

international standards of auditing.

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QENDRA PER MBROJTJEN E TE DREJTAVE TE FEMIJEVE

NE SHQIPERI

Adresa e zyres: Pallatet e Shallvareve, Vila mbrapa Fushave

te Tenisit, Kati II, Tirane / Shqiperi

Adresa postare: Kutia Postare 1738, Tirane / Shqiperi

Tel / Fax: + 355 4 242264

E-mail: crca@crca.org.al

www.crca.org.al/

CHILDREN’S HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE OF ALBANIA -

CRCA

Office address: Pallatet e Shallvareve, Vila mbrapa Fushave

te Tenisit, Kati II, Tirane / Shqiperi

Mail address: Kutia Postare 1738, Tirane / Shqiperi

Tel / Fax: + 355 4 242264

E-mail: crca@crca.org.al

www.crca.org.al