A/HRC/13/6 on economic, social and educational development. Israel asked if Albania considered integrating various laws addressing issues of minorities into a single one. Israel made recommendations. 40. Montenegro commended Albania for its readiness to fulfill international obligations and to promote and protect human rights. It noted that the Albanian minority in Montenegro and the Montenegrin minority in Albania live in peace and harmony, representing a bridge in the relations between two countries which jointly strive to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. 41. Poland appreciated the achievements made in tackling the problem of trafficking in human beings, including through the adoption of relevant legislative, institutional and policy frameworks. It enquired about the measures taken and being envisaged to implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in 2005 and the steps to be taken to enhance the cooperation with other stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations in the fight against trafficking in human beings. Poland made recommendations. 42. China commended Albania for carrying out wide consultation with various stakeholders in preparation of its national report and for the progress made in various areas, including protection of rights of children, women and Roma, fight against discrimination on various grounds and trafficking in human beings, effective cooperation with the international community. Considering that Albania faces a challenge of children exploitation, China asked about measures the Albanian government had undertaken or plans to initiate to address this challenge. 43. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia welcomed the attention given by Albania to minority issues and the establishment of the National Committee on Minorities under the Prime Minister and noted the progress made in combating poverty. Noting remaining challenges in the social sphere, it encouraged Albania to continue working on remedial measures to address regional disparities that affect the equal enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights and to pursue efforts in the field of education. 44. The delegation stated that Albania has recognized trafficking as a phenomenon since 2001 when it ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Optional Protocol and its criminal code has been amended to be in conformity with this and other instruments. Amendments to the Criminal Code concern forced child labour, child begging, pornography with minors and trafficking in minors, including sale of children by parents. Albania developed several programmes against trafficking in persons, adopting and implementing anti-trafficking strategies of biennial length. Other programmes, like those concerning unemployment, reduction of school leaving, and empowerment of minorities, in particular Roma, have indirect effects. Assistance services for victims are improved by the guidelines for implementing the social care standards for trafficked persons through, among others, the increase of financial resources for the national shelter in Tirana. Assistance is also provided after the victims leave the shelters. Albania has five reception and reintegration centres which offer short, medium and long-term assistance and reintegration to victims of trafficking. In order to track cases of trafficked persons, including their identification, a database has been operational since September 2008. This system has enabled 55 persons to be identified and assisted in 2009 so far. The draft law to amend the law on prevention of organized crime is being adopted by the Parliament; amendments will include, inter alia, confiscation of assets owned by perpetrators of trafficking and compensation of victims. Positive prevention measures include awareness programmes for the general public, improving the capacities of law agencies dealing with this phenomenon and informing people about legal migration and employment abroad. A law on the improvement of the legal framework for the protection of witness and collaborators creates a legal flexible tool to ensure protection through specific 9

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