Albania

No housing. No future.

(Postcards 1 & 2)

Orphans in Albania have the right to adequate housing

Dear Minister,This picture shows the conditions in which many adult orphans live in Albania, despite laws which guarantee them priority with housing.Orphans are among the most vulnerable groups in Albania. Without family support, as adults they risk unemployment, poverty and sexual exploitation. Over 300 adult orphans are currently living in degrading conditions in dilapidated residence halls or other temporary accommodation. The denial of their right to secure and adequate housing aggravates their marginalization. Amnesty International welcomes initiatives to create social housing for vulnerable people with low incomes, including a project to build 1,100 apartments in Tirana, Durrës and other towns by 2010. I call upon you to ensure that adult orphans are guaranteed their right to priority with housing, as set out in Article 17 of the Law on the Status of Orphans and Article 5 of the Law on Social Programmes for the Housing of Inhabitants of Urban Zones.

Yours sincerely,

Signed

Date

Caption

Exterior of student hall accommodation, where adult orphans live, Tirana, Albania. © Amnesty International

(Postcard 1)

Z. Ministër i Punëve Publike

Transportit dhe Telekomunikacionit

(Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications)

Ministria e Punëve Publike, Transportit dhe Telekomunikacionit

Sheshi Skënderbej, Nr 5

Tiranë

Albania

(Postcard 2)

Z. Ministër i Punës Çështjeve

Sociale dhe Shanseve të Barabarta

(Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities)

Ministria e Punës, Çështjeve Sociale dhe Shanseve të Barabarta

Rruga e Kavajës

Tiranë

Albania