Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania (CRCA)

Über uns

The Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania (CRCA) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious and non-profit organisation with headquarters in the capital city, Tirana.
By March 1997 Albania was in total turmoil and people had taken to arms across the country in protest against the corruption, an authoritarian government and lack of a functioning state. Seven years after the people had overthrown the communist regime from power, the country was still far from living in a democratic state, where human rights of all are respected.
Children were among the most affected from the violence and unrest that followed. Media reports claim that more than 150 children were killed accidentally by bullets and other types of ammunitions. It is under such a background that a dedicated group of lawyers, doctors and journalists, with a extensive working experience on human rights, decided to come together to establish Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania (CRCA).

Mission
CRCA works to promote the respect of children and youth rights, to protect them from violence, abuse and exploitation, to develop children and youth rights in Albania and to increase child and youth participation at national and local level, through lobby and advocacy, policy and legislation improvement; capacity building, information and research, and establishment of good models of services of child care and protection. CRCA promotes the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and all other national and international human rights standards.

Vision
• During its operation, CRCA promotes especially the respect of children’s rights, youth, human rights, women and minorities rights.
• During its activity, CRCA promotes the fact that the child is born as a bearer of rights, and these rights need to be respected from everybody. One of the primary goals of CRCA’s is child participation in all decision-making process.
• During its work, CRCA is forbidden to promote intolerance or discrimination against religion, ethnic origin, disability, race, colour, religion, age, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social status or political beliefs.
• CRCA’s activities and decision-making are independent of the government, governmental institutions, organisations, parties or political parties, religion, business etc. CRCA can be part of networks, alliances or organisations inside and outside the country, who promote the respect for children’s rights, youth, human rights, women, minorities etc.

Guiding principals:
• Child and Youth Participation
• Respect for human rights

Programmes:
• The Rights of the Child a Democratic Right
• Information, Communication and Education on children and youth rights
• Support Juvenile Justice Reform
• Child care and protection
• Monitoring and reporting on child rights situation in Albania and Kosovo/ Preparation and Submission of Shadow Reports to UN
• Promotion of Democracy and Good Governance in Albania
• PINK EMBASSY/ LGBT Pro Albania is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, which aims to promoten the respect and protection of the rights of lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people (LGBTIQ) in Albania. Implemented as a program since May 2010 by CRCA and COC Netherlands.
• Information and Research Centre for Children’s Rights in Albania (IRCCRA): IRCCRA was established on 26-th of August 1999 by a decision of the Board of Directors of Children's Human Rights Centre (CRCA). It played an important role in exchanging and the coordination of information on children during the Kosovo war

Altin Hazizaj is the General Director of the Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania (CRCA).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.