Shqip
English
Tirana, 18th June 2018 – The Albanian National Youth Network (ANYN), attended this morning a hearing session by the Parliamentary Commission on Labour, Social Affairs and Health, to discuss the state of the implementation of the National Action Plan for Youth 2015-2020 and the situation of the youth rights in the country. Special emphases was given to the rights of girls and young women, including violence against girls.
The sessions was attended by youth representatives of ANYN, the Deputy Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Mr. Shpat Kolgega, and the Director of the National Youth Services.
Youth organisations and ANYN worked during 2017 to Draft a Resolution for Youth Rights in Albania, which was latter submitted to the Albanian Parliament for discussion and approval. If approved this will be the first ever resolution passed by the Parliament since Albania established its democratic system 28 years ago. The Resolution calls for the Parliament and the Government to increase their efforts and budget to support youth work at national and local level.
ANYN also asked the members of the Commission's to support the establishment of a Sub-Parliamentary Commission for Youth. About 35% of the population of Albania consists of young people aged 14-35 years. The Commission on Labour and Social Affairs promised that this request would be forwarded to the Parliament for approval and most probably, its members will be all 15 young MPs of the Parliament.
Among the major issues raised by ANYN’s representatives and activists were related to the situation of high school and university students, lack of implementation of youth policy in overall, National Youth Card etc. Representatives of youth organizations brought to the commission’s attention also the lack of a national budget for youth in Albania. The current budget amounts to 0.01% of the state budget, which cannot cover any of the costs related to the implementation of the National Action Plan for Youth in Albania.
Based on the first ever Alternative Report produced by ANYN in 2017, on the implementation of the National Youth Action Plan, it results that only 21% planned activities envisaged to be implemented during 2015-2017 were achieved. Out of 48 activities, only 10 were fully implemented. Several youth activists raised in the session their concerns on the lack of Career Counselling Offices for young people, as well as the absence of a labour market study on youth employment opportunities. Meanwhile Albanian schools and universities lack well-established libraries, laboratories and proper infrastructure for young people with disabilities.
The Parliamentary Commission on Labour and Social Affairs and Health invited youth organisations to play an increased role in participating at legal initiatives of the Parliament that relate to youth.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Ervjola Osmanaj,
President of the Albanian National Youth Network – ANYN,
E-mail: ervjola.osmanaj@crca.al
