Blood-feud children open photo exhibition

TIRANA, June 19 – Thirty pictures by blood affected children living in self-isolation in the northern region of Shkodra were displayed in an exhibition called “Why afraid of life” this week. The exhibition is an initiative of the Justice and Peace Commission, an NGO aimed at raising awareness among public and state structures against the blood-feud phenomenon which dates back to the 15th century.
The director of the NGO Luigj Mila tells VoA in the local Albanian service some 10 cameras were given to the blood-feud affected children who were instructed and guided to capture what they felt.
“We wanted to offer the public in Shkodra and beyond their viewpoint of the life in their self-imposed isolation conditions.”
The blood feud phenomenon in northern Albania continues claiming innocent lives.
Last week, a 17-year old girl was killed with her grandfather in a Shkodra village on blood feud revenge.
An estimated more than 900 children in Albania can’t go to school because of the blood feud phenomenon. Some of them work to help their families,” according to the Albanian Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation.
Around 5,000 people in Albania are somehow affected by blood feud killings — revenge killings by a victim’s family against the killer’s family, according to the Committee.
Although the blood feud phenomenon dates back to the Middle Ages, many of the “rules” have not been adapted to modern times. The killing of women and children is prohibited, but most are forced to go into hiding or remain closed in at home.
In a bid to educate these “trapped” children, the education ministry has launched a programme called “Second Chance.”