CRC/C/ALB/CO/2-4 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr.: General 7 December 2012 Original: English Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding observations the combined second to fourth periodic reports of Albania, adopted by the Committee at its sixty-first session (17 September–5 October 2012) 1. The Committee considered the combined second to fourth periodic reports of Albania (CRC/C/ALB/2-4) at its 1738th and 1739th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.1738 and CRC/C/SR.1739) held on 25 September 2012, and adopted, at its 1754th meeting, held on 5 October 2012, the following concluding observations. I. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the State party’s combined second to fourth periodic reports and the written replies to its list of issues (CRC/C/ALB/Q/24/Add.1), which allowed for a better understanding of the situation of children in the State party. However, while taking note of the additional information provided by the State party after the dialogue, the Committee regrets the absence of representatives from the Ministry of Justice in the State party’s delegation, which impeded the dialogue on several issues and in particular those related to judicial matters. 3. The Committee reminds the State party that the present concluding observations should be read in conjunction with its concluding observations adopted on the State party’s initial reports under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC/C/OPAC/ALB/CO/1) and under the Optional Protocol on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC/CO/OPSC/ALB/CO/1). II. Follow-up measures undertaken and progress achieved by the State party 4. The Committee notes the adoption of the following legislative measures: (a) The Law No. 10347 on the Protection of the Rights of the Child in November (b) 2010; and The Law No. 10221 on the Protection against Discrimination in February 2010; (c) The Law No. 9669 on Measures against Violence in Family Relations in December 2006. GE.12-48514