CRC/C/ALB/CO/2-4
(c)
The absence of a parenting plan to ensure that children maintain relations
with both their parents after divorce; and
(d)
The insufficient enforcement of maintenance decisions, in particular with
regard to the lack of implementation of judicial decisions to pay maintenance allowance,
when the parent has emigrated abroad and the absence of legal provision supporting the
periodic judicial review of the maintenance allowance in the light of changing costs of
living.
53.
The Committee urges the State party to:
(a)
Set up programmes to support parents and caregivers to understand and
adopt good child-rearing practices based on knowledge of child rights, child
development and techniques for positive discipline in order to support families’
capacity to provide children with care and a safe environment;
(b)
Launch an awareness-raising campaign to prevent children from being
deprived of their mothers due to the application of the “Kanun” and ensure that the
best interests principle is applied in all cases concerning custody and contact;
(c)
Set up a structure and system to facilitate relations between the child and
both parents after divorce and ensure that responsibilities of parents for upbringing
and development of their children are clearly established considering under all
circumstances the best interests of the child; and
(d)
Take all necessary measures to ensure that alimony decisions are
enforced, consider ratifying the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of
Decisions relating to the Maintenance Obligations and the Convention on the Law
Applicable to Maintenance Obligations and ensure by law that the amount of the
maintenance allowance can be reviewed in accordance with the child’s evolving need,
his best interests and the situation of her/his parents.
Children deprived of a family environment
54.
The Committee welcomes the adoption of the Sectoral Strategy of Social Protection
of 2008 which aims to establish family-oriented alternative care services for children
without parental care, the de-institutionalization of children, the recognition of foster
families as beneficiaries of the 2010 Economic Aid Law and the development of manuals
for foster families and social workers. The Committee is however concerned that most of
the children in institutions have been placed there because of poverty and the lack of
appropriate support provided to their families. The Committee is particularly concerned by:
(a)
The organization of institutions by age groups, which results in frequent
moves of children, the disruption of their relations with staff and children and the
separation from their own siblings;
(b)
The situation of children who have to leave institutions at the age of 15 years
and are left with no support from the State party and are living in poverty, marginalized and
exposed to abuse and exploitation;
(c)
The insufficient number of staff to care for children in institutions and the
lack of training they receive; and
(d)
The situation of children in the centre of Poliçan who survive thanks to the
donations of the local community.
55.
The Committee urges the State party to take all necessary measures to ensure
that children from the most marginalized families can be raised with their biological
parents and, to this end, increase financial allocations to families in need and combine
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