Juveniles of Tirana with minor problems with the law will have the opportunity to be treated by their community by engaging in special socializing programs at the social centers of the Municipality of Tirana.
Tirana's Mayor Erion Veliaj and Minister of Justice Etilda Gjonaj signed on Tuesday a cooperation agreement on the implementation of alternative measures to avoid juvenile delinquency in violation of the law.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Justice that enabled such an agreement, stressing that it will bring a new approach to rehabilitating children in conflict with the law, through a friendly approach for minors.
"I am happy to believe in the Municipality of Tirana as the first institution to experiment and bring innovation to our five social centers, where many of those who the justice system considers to have done light violations, can be well rehabilitated in social centers. The young people you will refer to in our services will not be part of any institution, not of some railing or of a four-walled space, but of an experience that begins with socializing with counselors and psychologists, with the work of leaders and mentors in the community, which can involve them in other community work," said Veliaj.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice said that this agreement creates more contemporary opportunities for dealing with children who have problems with the law, and stressed that Tirana becomes the first city to provide the right infrastructure for this innovation.
"This center can be considered as the first swallow of a series of social centers in Tirana and in all other municipalities of the country, where minors with alternative sentences will have the opportunity to be treated as they receive service and treatment of a category of children. The agreement we are signing has the value of the cornerstone in a new, totally contemporary system that we are building on justice for minors. It is a process that is a novelty not only for our country, but also for all Western Balkan countries," said Gjonaj.