United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/20/24/Add.1 Distr.: General 10 April 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twentieth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau Addendum Mission to Albania* Summary The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants conducted an official visit to Albania from 5 to 13 December 2011, where he visited Tirana, Dürres and Shkodër, and held meetings with a number of Government representatives at central and local levels, members of Parliament, representatives of the judiciary and civil society, and migrants themselves. The Special Rapporteur recognized that the Government has adopted an impressive set of laws, policies and strategies to ensure a comprehensive and rights-based approach to migration in compliance with international and European standards and obligations. He also noted that a number of challenges remain, including a significant gap between policies and their practical implementation, which directly impacts on the capacities, resources and expertise of the State to ensure the full realization and protection of the human rights of migrants. In this context, the Special Rapporteur offered a number of recommendations to the Government, including on strengthening the national protection system, the protection of the rights of Albanian migrants abroad, Albanian returnees and foreign migrants in Albania. He also called upon the European Union and other international organizations to continue supporting the country to address remaining challenges and to intensify cooperation with neighbouring countries and key countries of destination in this regard. * GE.12-12901 The summary is being circulated in all official languages. The report, which is annexed to the summary, is being circulated in the language of submission and in French only.