A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Albania from 22 to 26 April 2024, as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
This new evaluation round of monitoring the implementation of the Convention focuses on vulnerabilities to human trafficking and measures taken by States Parties to prevent them, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. This includes a focus on the use of information and communication technology (ICT), which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.
Prior to the visit, the Albanian authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA examined how the main recommendations made in its third evaluation report on Albania have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met officials of the Ministry of the Interior (including the Office of the National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator and the State Police), the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (including the State Labour and Social Services Inspectorate), the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Sport, as well as the National Youth Agency, the Agency for the Administration of Sequestrated or Confiscated Assets, and the National Authority for Electronic Certification and Cyber Security. Discussions were also held with prosecutors, judges and other representatives of the Supreme Court, the High Judicial Council, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK), as well as of first instance and appeal courts.
Furthermore, the GRETA delegation met Ms Erinda Ballanca, People’s Advocate (Ombudsperson), and Mr Robert Gajda, Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (Equality Body). A meeting was also held with officials of the Parliament.
In addition to having meetings in Tirana, the delegation met members of the Regional Anti-Trafficking Committee in Durrës, as well as the local mobile unit which carries out outreach work to detect presumed victims of trafficking.
In the course of the visit, GRETA’s delegation visited the National Reception Centre for Victims of Trafficking in Tirana, an NGO-run shelter for child victims of trafficking in Elbasan, a children institution (orphanage) in Tirana, as well as the detention centre for foreigners in Karreç.
The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with non-governmental organisations and representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Delegation of the European Commission in Albania.
The visit was carried out by Ms Conny Rijken and Mr Luka Mađerić, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Parvine Ghadami of the Secretariat of the Anti-Trafficking Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the national authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be made public.
