CRCA and the Albanian National Youth Network initiative for a new Youth Law finally becomes a national priority for institutions in Albania

Despite a long delay, the participation of the Ministry of Youth in the process after all can be a good thing for youth rights

Tirana, July 19, 2018 - Although it is over 20 years since CRCA Albania and other youth organizations demanded that Albania have a youth law, only today the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, took their initiative to become part of the process. Although the details are unclear, if everything goes to plan, Albania will be on course to have a new youth law by the end of this year.

In 1998, youth movement in Albania demanded from the newly established Ministry of Culture and Youth, to draft a youth law for supporting young people and their organisations across the country. Although the experts worked to prepare a draft, it was never officially formalized because of the political situation at the time. The request was renewed by CRCA in the following years, but none of the Albanian governments saw youth as a priority. It was until early 2013 when CRCA officially asked again the new Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, coming himself from the youth movement, for this law to become reality.

Meanwhile, over the last two years, CRCA and the National Youth Council in Albania have been working together to consult with young people in 12 regions of the country and gather their concerns, which should be addressed by the new law.

Given the apathy of the institutions, in October 2017, CRCA and ANYN decided to initiate and support the process of drafting the Law on Youth by organizing the first consultative meeting: "A new Law for Youth in Albania". The meeting concluded with an urgent call to start the drafting process for the Youth Law in Albania with the aim to improve youth policies, establish a national mechanism for youth support and delivery of public services. While in June 2018, ANYN organized a second national consultation to set priorities and key issues to be addressed by the law.

This morning, at a meeting supported by the donor community in Albania, the Ministry announced that it has set up a working group to draft the youth law. Although youth organizations had demanded to be part of the entire process, the Ministry so far has said nothing, wearing the process with an inexplicable veil of mystery. At this meeting, CRCA officially asked once again that the law should be prepared with young people, for young people and by young people, to guarantee its success.

CRCA Albania sees the youth law as an opportunity to increase the support and engagement of young people, developing and fulfilling their entire potential.