A campaign targeting six areas in Albania known to experience high
levels of irregular migration and human trafficking is being
launched today after a survey found little awareness of human
trafficking and the dangers of irregular migration among the
population there.



About 20 per cent of the Albanian population has emigrated abroad
and each year hundreds of Albanians use illegal channels to migrate
to Western Europe, USA or Canada where they face problems related
to their irregular status, including deportation and trafficking.
It is the women and children who are particularly vulnerable to
human trafficking, with Albania being a source, transit and a
destination country for victims of trafficking.



The campaign, "Safe Migration Is A Choice And An Opportunity" to be
carried out in Shkodra, Tirana, Durres, Vlora, Kukes and Peshkopi,
aims to show how people can get information on regular channels of
migration and how to avoid the dangers associated with irregular
migration, such as human trafficking.



Part of a programme funded by the British Embassy in Tirana, the
campaign includes using tools such as television public service
announcements and a documentary to be aired on national and local
television stations and radio stations, leaflets, posters and
brochures, while a mobile information centre will be available for
people to visit. The establishment of a telephone hotline for
getting information on safe migration and for reporting trafficking
cases as well as training for journalists on ethical issues on the
way they cover trafficking cases, are additional aspects of the
campaign.



Albanian sopranist, Teuta Koco, who now has British citizenship, is
endorsing the campaign, as IOM Goodwill Ambassador in Albania.



"I am proud to have Teuta Koco on board as an IOM Goodwill
Ambassador. Through her dedication and eagerness to make a
difference, I am sure she will be a strong voice in promoting safe
migration and preventing human slavery in Albania,” said
Maurizio Busatti, IOM Albania Chief of Mission.



As part of its efforts to join the European Union (EU) and to show
it is working to manage migration from its borders, Albania has
signed agreements such as the Readmission Agreement with the EU
which allows for the return of third country nationals and
irregular Albanian migrants abroad. IOM is working with the
Albanian government to ensure its efforts to fight crime meets
international standards and to manage migration through the
promotion of informed, regular movement.



IOM also provides direct assistance to victims of trafficking
through the provision of counselling, return and reintegration
assistance, such as vocational training and job placement. So far,
IOM has directly assisted 252 foreign and 332 Albanian victims of
trafficking in the country.



For further information please contact:



Miriam Neziri Angoni

IOM Albania

Tel: ++ 355 68 29 87 090