TIRANA, March 30 /ATA/ – “ Trafficking in human beings is an issue that cannot be solved without an intensive regional cooperation. U.S. State Department understands this and has allocated a generous grant to support governments and NGOs in the region to establish a regional cooperation network,” US ambassador in Tirana, Donald Lu, pointed out.
During the launch of the project “Improving service provision and awareness raising in the fight against trafficking in human beings in the Balkan region, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo” funded by the US Department of State through the program of State Department Office for “Monitoring and the fight against human beings’ trafficking, Ambassador Lu said that people involved in human beings’ trafficking should be arrested and punished with the power of law. ”
“To do this, the countries in this region should think about enforcing the law and approaching services in a regional context. I congratulate Albania on its leadership initiative, including the establishment of an anti-trafficking conference to discuss prevention of child trafficking, “Lu said.
The US ambassador said that “We are enthusiastic about the innovative work, because the long-term goal is not merely to place the victims in shelters, but to make sure they come out of them with specialized skills, financial guarantees and self-confidence.”
This project will make a significant contribution in this regard, he said.
Ambassador Lu took the opportunity to appeal to all governments in the region, including Albania, to fund shelters for women and children that have fallen prey to trafficking.
“In the case of Albania, not only the govt. should commit itself from political perspective, it should provide funding in time,” he said.
For her part, Vice Minister of Interior, Rovena Voda, in her remarks, said that implementation of this project consists in implementation of a shared regional agenda, which will be intensified and enriched with other developments in the future.”
Thanking US State Department for financing this project, she considered the US embassy in Tirana as a strategic partner and closer collaborator in the efforts against this phenomenon.
“The US govt. has been one of the main supporters of state institutions, national organizations and civil society in Albania in their concerted effort to fight and prevent human beings trafficking,” Voda said.
“The US government has given and continues to make a valuable contribution to capacity building of state structures at central and local govt. level. as well as to establishment of cooperation between all state institutions and civil society organizations.
Dwelling on priorities of Albania govt. and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vice Minister Voda said they are based on strategic anti-trafficking policies and recommendations of partners such as USA and EU and of course are put in action plans on fight against human trafficking.
I am adamant that with your ongoing support and assistance, MoI and the Office of National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator will adhere to your guidelines and recommendations,” Voda said.
Vice Minister added that the Office of National Anti-Trafficking Cooperation will push ahead with its efforts in the fight against trafficking and will keep playing the role of a constructive partner in all regional initiatives.
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