Missing and Human Rights
Description
In this episode we talk to Altin Hazizaj discussing how the disappearance of individuals is not just a tragedy, but a human rights violation. We discuss how going missing can be right to life and personal freedom but at the same time a violation. International human rights law obligates states to prevent disappearances, investigate them promptly, punish those responsible, and provide remedies to victims and families. Additionally, from research, it is known that marginalized groups—like migrants, Indigenous communities, are disproportionately affected and often reflect a systemic inequality.
Guests
Altin Hazizaj is the CEO of CRCA/ECPAT Albania since 2002. He has 30 years of experience as a youth movement leader, journalist, child rights expert, with extensive experience in the business sector as well. He is a PhD docent of Law School of Tirana University, while he holds LLM and MA degrees in Law and European Studies. As a journalist he was arrested and imprisoned for his strong articles against the autocratic leadership and lack of democracy in Albania in 1996.
CRCA/ECPAT Albania is the first child and youth rights organisation established in post-communist Albania in March 1997, working for better policies and legislation, capacity building, research, advocacy and services for children and youth.
Since 2022 he is a member of ECPAT International Board of Trustees, representing Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In the ECPAT Board he chairs the Credentials Committee, made of five members from all over the world.
As a lawyer he has co-drafted Law on Domestic Violence, Law against Discrimination and Law on Sex Offenders Register. All the laws have been approved by the Albanian Parliament. Hazizaj is a national/international expert for major agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, Council of Europe etc.