Mission to Albania, 5-13 December 2011

The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr. Francois Crépeau, carried out a fact-finding mission to Albania from 5-13 December 2011 at the invitation of the Government.

During the mission, which included visits to Tirana, Durres and Shkoder, the Special Rapporteur met with Government ministers, state officials at central and local levels, members of Parliament, representatives of the judiciary, representatives of relevant agencies of the United Nations country team, international and regional organizations, representatives of civil society, and migrants themselves. He also visited border crossing points with Montenegro (Hani I Hotit) and Greece (Qafe Bota and Kakavija), the reception centre at Tirana International Airport, the national reception centre for asylum-seekers (Barrbu) and the closed reception centre for irregular migrants (Kareç).

The Special Rapporteur issued preliminary observations and recommendations on the mission in his end of mission statement of 13 December 2011: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=11707&LangID=E.

The final report with findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur will be presented at the 20th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2012.

Engaging on the ground

With a view to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation of the human rights of migrants (Albanian migrants abroad, returning Albanian migrants and foreign migrants in Albania), the Special Rapporteur met with a broad range of interlocutors during his country visit, including migrants themselves.

The Special Rapporteur holds his first meeting in Tirana with the United Nations country team	The Special Rapporteur in dialogue with the Minister of Interior, Mr. Bujar Nishani.
The Special Rapporteur meets with the National Coordinator for Anti-Trafficking of Human Beings, Ms. Iva Zajmi.	The Special Rapporteur (left) together with representatives of the Sportele Migracioni (centre) in Shkoder and the two interpreters traveling with the Special Rapporteur (right).
The Special Rapporteur shares his preliminary findings at a press conference at the Rogner Hotel, Tirana, facilitated by Ms. Nora Kushti, Communication Specialist, Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Albania.	The Special Rapporteur (foreground) at Kakavija border crossing point.
Visiting the Border and Migration Police (BMP) at Durres.