After Kosovo, Albania is the youngest country in Europe, with more than 578,000 children under the age of 15, according to the 2011 census. According to the latest official study of INSTAT (National Child Labor Survey), 7.7% of children between the ages of 5 and 17 are exploited for hard labor and begging. These children are everywhere both day and night. Every pedestrian sees them, but they learn to look the other way.
These children face a greater risk of abuse, neglect and marginalization and sexual abuse. By being in the street, they are also at risk of being sexually exploited, kidnapped and involved in prostitution or trafficking. The risks are very real and felt by children like Klodi. “Some people insult me and say ‘jevk’ (An offensive word for Roma people),” he says. “I’m afraid to go only with my sister because people might do something bad to her, because she is a girl,” he adds.
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