CAAHT ANNUAL CONFERENCE - “The Albanian Initiative: Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking” 16-17 November, Tirana (November 17, 2006)

Tirana - On 16 - 17 November 2006, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program, The Albanian Initiative: Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking (CAAHT), convened its second annual conference. The conference inaugurates the continuation of this important anti-trafficking initiative for an additional three years, through September 2006. The three-fold purpose of the conference is 
   1) to review the progress of cooperation among anti-trafficking stakeholder through the CAAHT program;
   2) to share good practices from government and civil society in combatting trafficking in persons; and
   3) to envision futher steps to ensure the sustainability of anti-trafficking work in Albania in the future.

Deputy Chief of Mission Stephen Cristina, United States Embassy, opened the conference today, emphasizing that fighting organized crime, corruption, and trafficking are key priorities for the Albanian Government.

He affirmed the importance of the wide variety of central and local government as well as civil society anti-trafficking actors gathered in the room. “Successful anti-trafficking initiatives are reinforced by programs that support economic development, good governance, education, health, and human rights, and flow from country-based collaborative frameworks that have the committed participation of civil society, government, and law enforcement.” he stated.

Over thirty speakers from Albanian government offices and NGOs made presentations in small discussion groups of practical models for preventing trafficking of women and children as well as providing services to enable victims of this crime to restore their lives.

Many of the conference participants are members of the newly appointed Regional Committees in the Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Deputy Chief of Mission urged these representatives to take advantage of the conference to identify practical ways that their Committees will be able to help operationalize the Albanian National Anti-trafficking Plan.

The second day of the conference will use an innovative discussion and planning technique called “World Café”. Participants will work together in small groups of four and five people to identify the most important lessons learned and build common visions of a sustainable nationwide effort to protect the citizens of Albania from the abuse and exploitation of trafficking.
 
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CAAHT is a USAID-funded project, implemented by Creative Associates International, Inc., which aims to combat the trafficking of women and children by reaching Albania society through activities aimed at national, district, and local community levels. For further information about the CAAHT Annual Conference and CAAHT program, please call Mr. Dolor Tozaj, CAAHT Local Program Coordinator at 068 20 71 488 or visit the CAAHT web site: www.caaht.com