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HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ALBANIA

 

 

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Since the 1990s, Albania has been a source and transit country for sex trafficking and child exploitation. In 2004, 132 traffickers were prosecuted and 121 convicted, with 30 receiving over ten years. Convictions fell to 11 by 2009 and remained low after 2013 reforms. Investigations later increased: 41 cases in 2019, 85 in 2022 (126 victims), and 165 potential victims identified in 2023, including for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and begging.

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1990s–Early 2000s: Emergence & peak

  • After the fall of communism (1990s), Albania became a major origin/transit country for women and children trafficked abroad, particularly into Western Europe.
  • It is estimated that over 500,000 Albanians left the country in the first 10 years after the collapse of communist regime, primarily to Italy and Greece.
  • During this period, human trafficking saw a sharp rise, with a particular increase in cases involving sexual exploitation and the use of children in forced labor.
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2001–2009: Persistent prosecution, limited impact

  • 2004: Albanian courts prosecuted 132 traffickers and convicted 121, with over half receiving sentences above five years (30 above ten years)
  • 2007: 26 convicted for human trafficking,
  • 2008: 26 sentenced her to a term of imprisonment,
  • 2009: 11 convicted out of 31 arrested, all for sexual exploitation of women and children.
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2013–2015: Legal shifts, mixed outcomes

  • In 2013, harsher trafficking penalties were introduced; nonetheless, only 3 convictions that year; 9 in 2014.
  • 2015: The National Coalition of Anti-Trafficking Shelters reported 85 trafficking cases, though true incidence likely higher.
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2019–2021: Tier 2 ratings & investigations

  • The U.S. State Department rated Albania Tier 2—not fully compliant but making significant efforts.
  • The Albanian State Police investigated 41 cases with 62 suspects in 2019.
  • Some 31 investigations involving 32 suspects; of those, 27 suspects were found guilty for adult trafficking.
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2022–2024: Continued efforts & data expansion

  • 2022 investigations: 85 cases, 112 suspects (71 for sex trafficking); identified 61 sex trafficking victims, 65 forced labor victims, plus 33 in multiple exploitation categories.
  • 2023: Continued progress; U.S. TIP 2024 notes 165 potential victims—80 sex, 58 labor (including 55 forced begging), others in mixed exploitation.
  • Still rated Tier 2 as of 2023.
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Convictions Trend (2004 – 2023)

  • Sharp decline after 2004’s record 121 convictions – a period when international pressure and new laws drove large-scale prosecutions.
  • 2007–2012 trough: single-digit convictions, reflecting weak institutional follow-through.
  • Brief rebound 2013-2016 (peaking again at 11 convictions).
  • Stagnation 2022-23: zero convictions for the second consecutive year despite 165 potential victims identified in 2023.
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Child Trafficking from Albania

  • Albanian children, especially those from Roma and Balkan‑Egyptian communities, are commonly trafficked and smuggled abroad for forced begging, petty crime, domestic servitude.
  • Children under 12 are typically trafficked for begging and street crime, while those 15 and older, particularly girls, are more likely to be exploited in commercial sexual exploitation.
  • A broader regional study across Europe (including Albania) found that among under‑18 forced begging victims, approximately 70% were boys, consistent with patterns in the Balkans.
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Since 1991, more than 1 in 3 trafficking convictions in Albania have involved children.

In 2022, 61 victims were rescued from sexual exploitation—many under 18.

Forced labour accounted for 42 % of all victims identified in 2022.

Albania secured zero trafficking convictions in both 2022 and 2023, underscoring the urgency of reform.

Albanian children, particularly from Roma and Balkan‑Egyptian backgrounds, are trafficked abroad, often to countries like Greece, Italy, and the UK, for forced begging, petty crime, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. In a sample of 45 cases, OSCE data showed 39 confirmed or potential victims (25 girls, 14 boys). Children under 12 are usually exploited in begging/street crime, while girls aged 15+ are most at risk of sexual exploitation.