Albania progresses in fighting human trafficking

TIRANA, Jan. 9 – After United Nations conference “Giving Voice to Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking” called for more attention and stronger enforcement, Special Rapporteur Juan Miguel Petit has issued a statement on Albania’s new government and their progress in fighting human and sex trafficking.
He first thanks the government for the invitation to review the country, and sees it as a sign of openness and commitment to the issue, especially “considering how new this government is.” After visiting three cities, 40 meetings, and over 100 people in a week’s time, Petit has noted the country’s progress in developing its framework, including greater awareness, better trained police, and tighter border control.
He does, however, note that these treat only the symptoms of the diseases of “poverty, families without opportunities for development, communities lacking social services, stigmatized minorities, persistent discriminatory practices against women, an educational system inadequate for today’s challenges,” which all lend their hand in creating the market for human and sex trafficking.
Petit therefore recommends treating the disease itself and focusing on prevention, via firm investment in education and social services, where Non-Government Organizations have been bearing most of the work.
The International Labor Organization estimates at least 12.3 million work in forced labor, bonded labor, and commercial sexual servitude, which constitutes 11.3% of the victims (1.39 million). Half of all the forced workers are women and girls.
At the conference, High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay stressed the urgent degree of attention this fight requires, “A human rights approach demands that we listen to survivors of human trafficking to craft better responses.”
Rachel Lloyd, victim of sex trafficking in Germany, told her story of escaping and running to the police, only to be dismissed. They suggested she ask her trafficker for a ride back to England