PRESS RELEASE

“School benches barricade against trafficking”

awareness raising campaign targeting youth in Albania

Tirana, December 17, 2007 – The General Secretariat for Gender Equality of the Hellenic Ministry of Interior, the Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) and IOM, organize a press conference in the framework of the project “Prevention and Support activities to victims of trafficking”. This press conference aims at informing the Albanian public of a preventive action with school institutions to the benefit of the Albanian youth. It will take place at 11.00 AM, at “Consortium Conference Room”, Tirana International Hotel.

This project, totaling 220.000 euros funded by the Hellenic Republic, works with the Republic of Albania Ministry of Education and Science, as well as the Ministry of Interior regarding the educational seminars for students aged 14-18 years. The project is to be tested in more than 100 schools in Tirana district under the slogan “School benches barricade against trafficking”. The main target is to help persons, victims of gender or domestic violence with links to trafficking, to identify risk associated with irregular migration and inform the youth of the trafficking threats.

Under the auspices of the donors, a multidisciplinary team composed of social worker, psychologist, legal advisor and medical officer provides advanced counseling in support of reintegration and empowerment of former Albanian victims of trafficking.

This press conference will highlight the concerted efforts to prevent trafficking and assist victims of trafficking within Albania and in the region.

For more information, please contact:

Ms Miriam Neziri Angoni

Public Information officer

Tel: ++ 355 4 257 836/7/271 629

Fax: 355 4 257 835

IOM Mission in Albania:

Rruga “Brigada e Tete”, Vila no. 3 • Tirana • Albania

Tel: +355 4 257836 / 7 Fax: +355 42 57835 • E-mail: iomtirana@iom.int

Internet: http://www.iomtirana.org.al