CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SPORTS, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND YOUTH DISCUSS ON 2017 STATE BUDGET FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE”

Tirana 24 November 2016

Albanian Coalition for Child Education, Children’s Human Right Centre of Albania and Albanian National Youth Network in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth organized the public consultation “Albanian State Budget for Children and Young People”.

Albanian population remains one of the countries with the youngest populations in the Europe; children and young people compose 55.4 % of Albanian population. Since 2013, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth and the Ministry of Education and Sport have undertaken a series of important reforms, which have a direct impact in the lives of children, young people, public officials, etc. The new reform on the social care services, child protection, pre-university education, including schools as community centers, the establishments of new youth centers bring a series of demands for funding.

All these important reforms have also a direct impact in the state annual budget, state official policies as well as require citizen’s participation and involvement in their implementation. In functioning democratic state, taxpayers play an important role in participation and decision-making on the budget, because they legitimize the decision-making of the Government and Parliament in the planning and allocation of funds according to their development needs or protection of society.

It is the first time that Civil Society Organizations in Albania initiate this process in collaboration with Ministries that directly are involved in issues related to children and young people in the country. In this aspect is of special importance the consultation with the public and civil society organizations of the new budget for 2017, the challenges faced by public institutions and civil society organizations to support children and young people in need, and implementation of national strategies and policies in their respective fields.

Present in the public consultations were the deputy minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Nora Malaj, Representatives of the Albanian Parliament Mrs. Olta Xhacka, Representatives of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, representatives of UNICEF-Albania, Save the Children, distinguished education and budget experts, representatives of the council of Europe, civil society organizations as well as youth NGOs.

Organized in two main sessions of discussions the participants established a dialogue with the Ministries to address the needs where more budged need to be allocated. The Public Consultation, put emphasis on the specifics of this budget, what are their impacts on child rights issues and youth services to as shared budget plan (budget program), and what are the demands of civil society, as well provided e platform for dialogue between CSOs and the government in budget related issues.