Participatory budgeting and budget analysis training

Public investment through specific budget allocations is essential for the translation of policy commitments into realization of children’s rights. Budget is a key instrument that shows the commitment of States/Governments to fulfil their obligations in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Although Albania’s approval and adoption of the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child (2010) and the National Plan of Action for Children (2012-2015) was a big step forward, the implementation so far has revealed several shortcomings due to limited resource allocation. The Concluding Observations (December 2012) of the UNCRC Committee on Albania’s State Report has expressed concern over budget allocation to areas of direct relevance to children which is decreasing over years.

To enhance involvement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in identifying gaps in the implementation of children’s rights, based on budget analysis and review of the implementation of the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child and the National Plan of Action for Children, trainings for CSOs are being conducted. This (2 days) training is conducted within the framework of the project "Increasing public investment for the realization of children's rights" supported by EU and implemented by Save the Children and the Institute of Contemporary Studies. Overall objective of this project is to contribute to the protection of children’s rights in Albania by increasing public investment for the realization of their rights.