Shqip
English
Tirana, 12 August 2018 - The Child Rights Centre Albania (CRCA) and the Albanian National Youth Network (ANYN), on the International Youth Day, published the findings of the National Report "Youth in Albania". This report raises major concerns on the difficult and hopeless situation of young people, as well as the failure by the Government and Municipalities to implement the National Action Plan for Youth (2015-2020).
The Director of CRCA Albania, Mr. Altin Hazizaj in the presentation of the Report stated: "We ask for urgent adoption of the Youth Resolution and the establishment of the Parliamentary Sub-Commission on Youth in the Albanian Parliament. Secondly, we ask for the immediate reestablishment of the Youth Directorate, capable of implementing the National Youth Action Plan in Albania." He emphasized that the Albanian Government should adopt a specific budget for Youth as well as in each municipality Youth Sections shall be established.
The National Report "Youth in Albania" was drafted over a period of two years with the participation of over 15 youth civil society organizations to monitor the work of the Government and Municipalities in implementing the National Action Plan for Youth (2015-2020) in Albania. The plan that was adopted by the Albanian Government in May 2015 aims to develop and coordinate the crosscutting youth policies in education, employment, health, culture, and strengthen youth participation in social life and decision-making processes.
The National Youth Index in Albania, which accompanies the Report, is an “alarm bell” for all policy makers in Albania. About 81% of youth organizations in the country stated that they had no support from the Government to implementing employment policies; while 80% of young people found no friendly services, while the budget for youth is almost non-existent.
The National Report "Youth in Albania" writes that out of 50 planned activities that should have been implemented during the period 2015-2017, only 10 of them have been met, due to the lack of institutional structures at central and local level.
The report also highlighted that: "The lack of a Youth Budget in the Ministry's overall budget not only influenced the fulfilment of indicators but, furthermore, increased the opportunities for the National Plan to not implemented. The inter-ministerial group has not yet been established to monitor the implementation of the National Action Plan, while the dualism of youth structures, as well as a lack of staff, added uncertainty over the roles of structures and their respective functions. "
The President of ANYN Albania, Ervjola Osmanaj, regarding the non-implementation of the Action Plan said: "The Albanian Youth so far has not received the promised support from the Government and the Municipalities! Young peoples’ opportunities are increasingly being restricted in their opportunities to participate in decision-making and policy-making. Being used only as a political background, young people cannot manage to change or improve their life and role in the country."
The National Report "Youth in Albania" analysis in detail the work of the Albanian Government and all municipalities of the country on how they worked towards the implementation of the National Youth Action Plan (2015-2020), approved by government 3 years ago.
Although Albania has been working hard for years to be integrated into European Union, young people still as of 2018 are faced with massive unemployment and few opportunities to develop themselves. Youth participation in decision-making remains negligible. Figures from international organizations show that about 30% of Albanian youth are unemployed. The International Labour Organization (ILO) data rank Albania as the first country in Europe for youth unemployment.
For more information, please contact:
Mrs. Ervjola Osmanaj
President, Albanian National Youth Network
E-mail: ervjola.osmanaj@crca.al
