Reintegration of Children in Contact with the Law and Social Responsibility of the Business Community

This conference held on Dec.18/2013, aimed to increase awareness on the importance of reintegration of children in contact with law and the social responsibility of the business community in Albania to support this. Findings and recommendations of the study on the situation of the reintegration of juveniles in contact with the law in Albania’ were presented during the conference.

The conference was attended by Bardhylka Kospiri, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Welfare and Youth, Artur Zoto, General Director of Prisons, Ilir Qafa, General Director of Probation Service, Gjergji Gjika, Chairman of “Fasson” Chamber in Albania, Gianfranco Visicchio President of Meridia Italy, Helen I’Anson, Country Director of Save the Children,  representatives of Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the State Social Service, National Service Employment,Prefecture District of Tirana, , the Regional Labor offices, and other relevant actors working with and for children in contact with the law in Albania.

According to Meridia’s analysis, Albania has made improvements in domestic legislation, mainly to align with international instruments for protecting juveniles’ rights. However, there is a lack of legal instruments specifically focused on reintegration through education, guidance and professional training and employment to safeguard and protect the rights of juveniles in contact with the law. Additionally, the number of juveniles in contact with law and the number of repeat offenders are increasing. The main reasons for this are socio-economic family situations and absence of a referral system at national and comprehensive level. All the findings and the recommendations from the analysis study are expected to feed into an institutional and public awareness campaign, changes in the referral system and other legislative reforms in juvenile justice. 

“Until now, there has been lack of attention towards juveniles in contact with law. They need support and attention and should benefit from all the services that can help them reintegrate into society” expressed Bardhylka Kospiri, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Welfare and Youth.

“Efforts are needed to prevent the involvement of juveniles in criminal activity - ensuring that families, schools and communities and child protection systems work together to ensure children understand the risks and dangers and are able to protect themselves from getting involved in crime in the first place. Depriving children of their liberty should be a step that is avoided if at all possible – and Save the Children will continue to work with the Ministries of Justice and Interior, Prisons, Probation and Prosecution Services to advocate for changes in legal systems and procedures so that alternatives to detention are available to as many young people as possible” said Helen I’Anson, Country Director of Save the Children.

Save the Children has been working with young people and children in contact with the law since 2011 working in detention and pre detention centres and other parts of the justice system, including advocacy at national level to ensure children are protected, are provided with effective support and most importantly that their rights are respected whenever they come into contact with the legal system and the law.

“Where support for reintegration is given it changes lives, changes futures and ultimately it will change the role these young people play in society. As one young man who was successfully reintegrated through support from Save the Children and Meridia said: “If I had not met [the program], I would again go back to the same group of friends and probably now I would be in prison.”

A family member said “I want to give everything to my child, but I have nothing. Thanks to the program, a business has accepted my child to work within its enterprise. Thanks to you for believing in us”

Believing in these young people, that they can change, that they can choose different paths and that they have a future, is in the best interests of these children and also for the rest of Albanian society” said Helen I’Anson in her speech .

Meridia office in Albania has implemented the reintegration component for children and juveniles in contact with the law, as part of the “Strengthening Juvenile Justice System” program supported by Save the Children. The main aim of this program is that children and youth are served by a child-friendly justice system.

Meridia Consorzio Social Cooperativeis a social enterprise which includes 32 social cooperatives in Italy. It was created in January 1999 to promote, protect and consolidate the development of social enterprises operating in the field of social inclusion. Meridia also promotes community welfare policies and the core values of a social entrepreneurship model.