On the International Children’s Day, civil society marches for child rights in Albania

Tirana, 1 June 2018 - On the International Children’s Day, civil society organisations marched along the main boulevard of the capital of Albania under the slogan "You are Accountable to Children!". At least 200 participants from more than 30 organizations working children, women and human rights raised their voice and demanded accountability from the public institutions to respect and protect the rights of the child.

The march started with the reading of the Public Petition directed to every public institutions in the country, asking their accountability towards Albanian children and their education, living conditions, protection, access to justice and health care.

Altin Hazizaj, on behalf of the 28 signatory organisations of the petition, brought to the attention of the public the reality under which children live in Albania, demanding that the Albanian Government take concrete and immediate steps to guarantee and respect the rights of children sanctioned by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the obligations arising from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Petition was signed by all organizations publicly in front of the Prime-minister’s Office seeking accountability of the Albanian government. Then the representatives of different organizations, parents and citizens addressed the Assembly of Albania. They symbolically raised 140 Red Cards in from of the 140-member Parliament, to protest for their continued apathy in providing protection and holding accountable the Government and its institutions for the lack of respect of the child rights.

The march then continued towards the Presidential Office, where the doors were opened for civil society activists. The President of the Republic welcomed the organisations’ petition and expressed his commitment to require from the institutions to respect and protect children in Albania.

This is the 2^nd time that the Child Rights March is taking place in Albania. It is becoming a tradition to demand accountability, to celebrate and raise the voice for children.