Child protection and child rights

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Child protection and child rights

Our work is deeply intertwined with child protection institutions at both the local and central government levels, encompassing both public and non-public sectors. Our primary objective is to ensure the collaboration of various components in order to prevent, identify, respond to, and manage cases involving children who are at risk or victims of abuse, exploitation, neglect, trafficking, children in conflict with the law, and violations of children’s rights, including those without parental care.

We provide extensive support to children in vulnerable situations and their families through a range of outreach initiatives and multidisciplinary daily services.

1. Strengthening child protection mechanisms both nationally and locally.

Nisma ARSIS is deeply committed to fortifying child protection mechanisms both at the national and local levels in Albania. Our approach involves close collaboration with Child Protection Units across the country to provide comprehensive professional and technical support. We offer our expertise in various facets of child protection, including but not limited to legal frameworks and policies, case management procedures and provision of direct provision of social care services.

National level

Nisma ARSIS cooperates with Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Education and Sports for the promotion and implementation of holistic approaches to child welfare and protection. Through our collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the State Agency for the Rights and Protection of the Child, we work to ensure that children have access to essential social support systems. This includes advocating for the integration of mental health services, psychosocial support, and family strengthening programs into existing frameworks, as well as promoting the development of community-based care initiatives that prioritize the well-being of children and families.

With the Ministry of Interior as a member of the National Referral Mechanism for the fight against Trafficking of Human Beings in Albania, we focus on strengthening child protection mechanisms within law enforcement agencies and promoting the rights and dignity of children victims of trafficking/potential victims of trafficking. This involves providing training and capacity-building programs for police officers and other law enforcement personnel to enhance their understanding of child rights and improve their response to cases involving children. Additionally, we collaborate on initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing child trafficking, exploitation, and abuse, ensuring that children receive the protection and support they need.

In partnership with the Ministry of Justice, we advocate for the implementation of child-friendly justice systems that prioritize the best interests of the child and ensure access to justice for children in conflict with the law. With the Ministry of Education and Sports, we work to promote inclusive and child-centered approaches to education that prioritize the rights and needs of all children, including those from marginalized and vulnerable backgrounds.

Local level

Our efforts extend beyond mere consultation; we actively engage with Child Protection Units to offer coaching and direct support in handling cases involving children who are victims or suspected victims of crime. This support is tailored to the specific needs of each case, ensuring that vulnerable children receive the attention and care they deserve. Central to our methodology is the implementation of a family strengthening model, aimed at fostering environments conducive to the well-being and safety of children.

Our overarching objective is to intervene proactively through tailored programs, underpinned by the belief that early identification is crucial in facilitating effective treatment and mitigating long-term consequences, based on the current legal framework in Albania, including the following interventions:

Home visits: Engaging directly with families in their homes to assess their needs and provide targeted support.
Needs assessment: Conducting comprehensive assessments to identify the specific needs and challenges faced by children and families.
Risk assessment: Evaluating potential risks to the safety and well-being of children, enabling proactive measures to mitigate these risks.
Active participation in the Intersectoral Technical Group (ITG): Facilitating the involvement of relevant stakeholders, coordinating necessary services for effective case management and provision of direct support services.
Individual Protection Plan: Developing customized plans tailored to the unique circumstances of each child, outlining strategies for their protection and support.
Case management with prevention-oriented, Best Interest of the Child-oriented, and economic empowerment-oriented Approaches
Prevention services: Offering preventive interventions aimed at reducing the likelihood of harm or abuse before it occurs.
Counselling sessions: Providing supportive counseling services to children and families to address emotional and psychological needs.
Emergent intervention: Responding promptly to urgent situations requiring immediate attention and support.

2.Provision of immediate psychosocial support in Police Stations in cooperation with State Police in Albania.

Nisma ARSIS is at the forefront of providing crucial psycho-social services for children and youth in contact or conflict/contact with the law across police stations in Tirana, Kamza, Vora, Lezha, Kruja and Kurbin, Shengjin ensuring their rights and fair treatment during police interviews. This initiative, launched in 2011 with support from Save the Children, operates round the clock, employing a mobile team consisting of a social worker and psychologist. Currently, a team of 14 professionals is dedicated to providing psychosocial support in these settings.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Albanian General State Police Directory, Nisma ARSIS has institutionalized this service, aiming to replicate it nationwide. The intervention model not only focuses on immediate support but also strengthens the connection between the juvenile justice system and child protection services. Every case supported in police stations is seamlessly referred to and followed up by respective child protection workers, ensuring comprehensive care and continuity of support.

To further enhance the quality of interventions, Nisma ARSIS established Child Friendly Interview Units in Kamza and several police stations in Tirana, Lezha, and Kurbin. Moreover, the organization’s professionals have developed comprehensive guidelines for child interviews in police stations and provided dedicated training to police officers dealing with juveniles.

Home visits: Engaging directly with families in their homes to assess their needs and provide targeted support.
Needs assessment: Conducting comprehensive assessments to identify the specific needs and challenges faced by children and families.
Risk assessment: Evaluating potential risks to the safety and well-being of children, enabling proactive measures to mitigate these risks.
Active participation in the Intersectoral Technical Group (ITG): Facilitating the involvement of relevant stakeholders, coordinating necessary services for effective case management and provision of direct support services.
Individual Protection Plan: Developing customized plans tailored to the unique circumstances of each child, outlining strategies for their protection and support.
Case management with prevention-oriented, Best Interest of the Child-oriented, and economic empowerment-oriented Approaches
Prevention services: Offering preventive interventions aimed at reducing the likelihood of harm or abuse before it occurs.
Counselling sessions: Providing supportive counseling services to children and families to address emotional and psychological needs.
Emergent intervention: Responding promptly to urgent situations requiring immediate attention and support.

3.Offering safe accommodation and shelter for children and high risk.

The Center “House of Colors” serves as a beacon of hope and safety for children and mothers who have endured the trauma of violence and abuse and not only. Established in 2011 through a collaborative effort with the Municipality of Tirana and UNICEF Albania, the center’s Safe Emergency Shelter provides a lifeline for those at the highest risk, offering immediate refuge and support.

The shelter is not just a physical space; it’s a dedicated space of care and compassion, where children up to 18 years old, along with mothers and their children, find safety and protection. Whether they are victims of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, trafficking, exploitation, or find themselves without parental care or abandoned including foreign unaccompanied children, the shelter opens its doors to offer protection and support.

Over the past decade, the Center has protected over 1,000 children in their most vulnerable moments, providing a protective environment. Its significance goes beyond mere statistics; it stands as the first and only national service in Albania offering round-the-clock support and protection to every child facing high risk.

At the heart of this service are 30 dedicated professionals, whose unwavering commitment ensures that no child in need is left unaided. These professionals go beyond offering just accommodation; they provide direct services, support systems, and a pathway to healing and hope. Through robust case management, referrals to essential resources, and efforts toward reintegration, the center not only shelters but empowers its residents to reintegrate.

Its success has inspired replication efforts by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, serving as a blueprint for the integration of similar services into public institutions. Moreover, it has laid the foundation for the development of standards for Safe Emergency Shelters for children at high risk, setting a precedent for effective care nationwide.

4. Advancement of the Deinstitutionalization Process in Albania

The De-Institutionalization support program aims to facilitate the transition from residential child care institutions to family-based care alternatives in Albania. This program is designed to address the needs of children without parental care, enhance family reunification processes, and strengthen the capacity of state institutions and statutory workers involved in alternative childcare services. Some of the program components are presented as follows:

Assessment and individual care planning:

Conduct comprehensive assessments of children placed in public residential child care institutions.
Develop individualized care plans for each assessed child.
Consult with local actors, municipalities, and stakeholders to determine the transition process.

Implementation of De-Institutionalization phases:

Development and implementation of the National Action Plan for De-Institutionalization.
Implement and cost a model for restructured residential care institutions (RCIs) and its transformation process.

Family reunification and care alternatives:

Provide support for family reunification processes, ensuring the safety and well-being of children.
Develop and implement child and family support hub model to support vulnerable families and prevent child separation.
Develop and cost models for professional foster care to provide stable, nurturing environments for children without parental care.

Institutional capacity building and protocol development:

Offer technical support to state institutions, including the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MHSP), State Social Services (SSS), and State Agency for the Rights and Protection of Children (SARPC), throughout the de-institutionalization process.
Develop protocols and guidelines to guide the de-institutionalization process and ensure the rights and welfare of children are protected.

Direct support services and capacity building:

Provide direct support services for children without parental care, including access to healthcare, education, and psychosocial support.
Conduct capacity-building initiatives for statutory workers within alternative childcare services, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to support children in family-based care settings.