Reporting trafficking made easy

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Albanians now have the power to quickly, easily and anonymously report suspected cases of human trafficking (forced labour or commercial sex) via a new national hotline or Android smartphone app.

In addition to reporting, the free tools enable Albanians to locate services for trafficking victims.

“Today, this application marks a development that unites Albania with other developed countries through this unique hotline and mobile app, known internationally as a means to respond to cases of trafficking," said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the launch of the tools.

Although the government of Albania had previously established a national anti-trafficking hotline, the hotline could not be dialled from a mobile phone. While almost all Albanians have access to a mobile phone, less than 15 per cent of them have landlines. This meant the hotline was largely going unused.  

To improve the accessibility of the hotline, WV Albania partnered with the government of Albania and Vodafone, a large mobile phone carrier, to identify a new pan-European six digit number that could be dialled from any phone, including mobiles.  

The development of the new Android smartphone app was supported by the United States Agency for International Development and NetHope, a consortium of leading humanitarian organisations (including World Vision) that facilitates partnerships for technology investments.

The free app, called “Raporto! Shpeto” (Report! Save!), calls the hotline, displays a map of nearest services for victims (shelters, hospitals), sends a trafficking report via email or text and provides information about the problem of human trafficking in Albania, including how to identify and prevent it.

Trafficking reports from the hotline are sent directly to the police, who will immediately send officers to respond per Albania's standard operating procedures that were put in place to combat trafficking in 2011. Trafficking reports from the app are immediately sent to six high officials from different government agencies, who are trained to undertake immediate steps and follow the case.

 

"This publication is made possible by the generous support of the American
people through the United State Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are responsibility of World Vision and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government".