World Vision launches Child Protection Unit Evaluation Study

One of World Vision’s field staff in Vlora identified a mother who was unwilling to care for her two children, ages 8 and 11 years old. She wanted to send them to an institution.  Through a home visit World Vision learned that the family had several social problems, including divorce, second and third marriages, and a mother who was suffering from depression. The case was referred to the Child Protection Unit (CPU) worker who together with World Vision staff met with the  head of the school and the village leader to find a solution. The combination of psychological support; involvement of the mother’s sister; economic aid from the local government; support from World Vision field staff, and relationship building with the children was able to stabilize the situation and keep the family together. Thanks to the support she received, the mother was able to change her behaviour and became more caring. The children expressed feeling more protected as well.

This experience was the story that National Director of World Vision Albania and  Kosovo, Rein Dekker,shared with media and partners during the launch of the Child Protection Unit evaluation study on March 8th in Tirana, Albania. He chose to share this story to explain in plain words why all the actors (government, civil society, media etc) should work together to make the system work, noting that this is only one of the many painful stories of the children who can and are being supported through local CPUs.

The study, conducted by Stephanie Delany, an international consutant for children, gave a lot of examples as to how the CPUs can and should coordinate with local institutions and civil socity to guarantee the protection of children in Albania. Among the reccomendations was that the system of child protection should be fully implemented in each municipality and commune in the country, as established by the law. There are still many areas where the units have not been created yet. Additionally, the study highlighted standards to be established for the qualifications and training necessary for the staff of the CPUs as well as identified which services they should also supply. Finally, the study also highlighted the importance of raising awareness of the actors which according to the law are required to cooperate with the CPUs for child protection.

Important points that were raised in the sharing of the study include that the law mandates creating a CPU unit in each commune and municipality in Albania, around 370 in total. The study acknowleges that since the start of the enforcement of the On Protection of Child rights law in June 2011, around 125 CPUs have been established as a part of the administration of municipalities/communes. According to the study, “emphasis is now put on spreading the model of CPUs throughout Albania… but the  lack of an absolute obligation to accomplish this remains a challenge.”

According to the qualitative findings, children treated in the CPUs include cases focused on poverty, physical abuse, emotional abuse, negligence by parents, trafficking and school abandonment. The CPUs are making a diffference."In [the] year 2012 alone, CPUs have helped and supported 1,300 children at risk throughout the country,” emphasized Miranda Pashaj, Head of the State Agency for the Protection of Child Rights of Albania. 

The study also highlights that building CPUs throughout the country is a challenge, but, at present, monitoring their effective operation is a necessity. One of the recommendations given Stephanie Delaney was that, “Minimum standards of operation should be introduced and made mandatory  -  to cover all situations of child protection, including emergencies.”