“Street Law in Youth Community”

During 2002, public education with special emphasis to youths and raising their awareness have been some of the priorities of the AHC. Even before, AHC has been working with youths in sensitizing them on their rights and obligations in a democratic society. This sensitizing and educational work has been carried out in the framework of the project “Legal education in youth community” co-financed by Soros and the European Commission during year 2001.

Despite of the ongoing attempts of the Ministry of Education and Science for extending and improving the existing curriculum of the education of the youth in schools, they are in need of more educational programs. There are financial difficulties for training teachers on a continuous basis; A great number of youth who study in Tirana schools as well as in other big cities as a consequence of internal migration; It is a considerable heterogeneity regarding the contingent of pupils in schools and in communities  which lead to a heterogeneity of cultures, mentalities and customs; A great number of children who have abandoned schools especially in the rural zones or in the periphery of Tirana. All these factors have encouraged the Albanian civil society to carry out different activities in this area. AHC as well has had its contribution in this area.

For this year, the project “Street Law in Youth Community” is funded by the Swedish Helsinki Committee and has started its implementation from May 2002. 

 Activities carried out during this year in the framework of the project

Activity 1             The publication of the study carried out in high schools of Tirana and its dissemination

The research has been carried out in high schools of Tirana during November 2002-February 2002 period. The publication was released in 1000 copies.

Through this study, pupils and teachers, school directors, representatives of the leading institutions of the education sector and those of the local government organs, parents and other representatives of the community and the civil society, organisations which act in the field children’s rights will find a source of information for the Albanian youth and law, how much and how the youth know about their rights and the possibilities that the law offers them, about conflicts and their sorts etc. Teachers will get acquainted with the problems of the community pupils Enrichment of the library of the schools and of the area of studies on youth.

Activity 2             Organizing activities carried out in the framework of the National Day of Law

A big event at the Tirana District Court.  In May 10, 2002, 150 students of the high schools in Tirana and their teachers took part in a meeting with representatives from police, judges, lawyers, Law Faculty professors to talk about the judiciary, its functioning and the relations of the youth with the courts. Youngsters were interested in the police work to prevent crime, their rights at the court, treatment of the infants at the places of serving the sentence.

Mr. Erik Esbjornson, representative of the Swedish Helsinki Committee, was also present at the event. These activities gave the opportunity to the pupils and teachers to get information on the law day, judicial system, its way of functioning, to interact directly with the judges, prosecutors, police officers as well as to address several different questions.

The AHC is of the opinion that such meetings and talks are necessary to inform the youth and increase the access at the public opinion, courts, prosecutor offices, police, etc.

Programs on Tirana radio. On the occasion of the  National Law Day, the AHC organized a program on Tirana radio for the youths.  This programme informed all the people with special emphasis to the Albanian youth regarding the Law Day, its history and the functioning of the judiciary system in Albania and its challenges. The radio programs gave the opportunity to a considerable number of people to get information on law and the judicial system in Albania.

Activity 3    A two-days summer school with the children of the rural zone of Yzberisht ( 25-26 July 2002)

On 25-26 July 2002 in “Yzberisht” high school, a summer school was organized where 50 children between 14-16 years old took part. The purpose with this summer school was providing the target group with legal information, motivating these young people in conflict resolutions in the district where they live. The district of Yzberisht is known for its problems, its high criminality rate, its heterogeneous population because of internal migration. In addition, citizens in this district have guns in their hands which is another concern.

Teachers of the high school of Tirana, trained before by AHC as well as police officers working in the area where the school is, treated different topics regarding law, cooperation between the school and police, relations parents-children-teachers etc.

Since the second day it was an increase in the number of children, mainly between 10-14 years old (an age group which was not planned to take part in this school) some other topics were treated like: drugs, prostitution, risks of being involved in criminal activities and ways how this is realised. All these topics were discussed in groups, through games, drawings, practical exercises and role playing.