Shqip
English
Tirana, 18 November 2020 - Ermonela Jaho, “the world’s most acclaimed soprano” according to The Economist, announced today that she has accepted to be the CRCA/ECPAT Albania Ambassador in the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation. CRCA/ECPAT Albania is the largest child rights organisation in her own home country and Eastern Europe.
The opera star, chose to make public the news through a video message in Albanian and English, addressed to Albanian speakers and her fans and supporters across the world. You can see her video message in this link https://youtu.be/Crz0Mfg9zD4.
The soprano in her message emphasized: “Violators are stealing the innocence and brittleness of our children, but they will NEVER succeed in silencing them! Children and young people all over the world are suffering because of sexual abuse and exploitation online and offline! Let become the voice of those who do not have one!”- stated Jaho, inviting everyone to join in the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation anywhere in the world.
Ermonela Jaho becomes the very first personality from Albania to engage in the fight against child sexual violence and exploitation, at a time when countries across the world are declaring increased rates of child sexual abuse and exploitation online during the Covid 19 lockdowns. Albania declared a 1000-fold increase of reported child sexual abuse images online during that period.
The announcement coincides with the frightening increase in cases of violence and exploitation of girls for sexual purposes everywhere in Albania, turning this issue into one of the most essential for the life and protection of children. Barnahus Albania, a national service working to protect victims of sexual abuse, reported that it has saved more than 30 young girls from sexual abuse and exploitation.
Described as "one of the great verismo interpreters in the world", Jaho, will engage in raising the awareness of children and adolescents, to speak openly and report any incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Sexual violence is one of the most serious violation of children's rights. CRCA Albania in its report on sexual crimes against children and women reported that while 1 in 10 children are victims of sexual abuse, the justice system sentences with a guilty verdict only up to 42 percent of child sexual abuse cases. It’s the lowest rate of sentencing such crimes across Europe. The World Health Organization estimated that up to 1 billion children aged 2–17 years globally, have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year.
18 and 19 November correspond with the European Day and the International Day against Violence on Children, which are marked across in Europe and the World with advocacy and awareness activities in support of victims of violence, abuse and neglect.
For more information, please contact:
E-mail: crca@crca.al
