The trafficking of human beings in Albania

The British Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Nicholas Cannon addressed a forum aiming to raise awareness among students from the University of Shkodra, on issues regarding human beings trafficking. The forum brought together several institutions working to prevent trafficking of human beings.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Cannon highlighted the problematic and criminal aspects of human beings trafficking and how the phenomenon affects both the Albanian and British societies.

“The trafficking of human beings is an especially despicable crime. Those who organise it, who become part of it or who benefit from it deserve to be punished. But there is another form of exploitation; many Albanians especially women have entered the UK claiming asylum as victims of trafficking. In some cases their claims are real and these women have suffered a lot. However, in most occasions these are false claims” said Mr. Cannon.

The British Ambassador added that this problem can be tackled only through the collaboration between institutions working with law implementation, education, and civil society and religious groups.

The forum was intended to raise awareness among the students and academic staff on the trafficking phenomenon, its dynamics and consequences but also on the role that students and professors can play to prevent it.