The Medaille Trust’s 10th International Criminal Justice Conference took place in Albania from 3–7 November, with visits to Spuz and Podgorica in Montenegro, as well as Shkoder and Tirana in Albania. Marinus Analytics’ Head of Global Engagement was pleased to attend and contribute, sharing expertise on human trafficking and strengthening partnerships to enhance the company’s technical support for law enforcement and NGOs combating exploitation.
This year’s conference saw record participation, including representatives from UK Police, the Home Office, NGOs, and numerous police and NGO delegates from across the Western Balkans, along with UK Embassy and Home Office staff based in Albania and Kosovo.
Session topics throughout the week included:
Exploring Precarious Journeys: Lived realities of hopelessness, risk, and illusory promises
Albanian Diaspora in the UK: Identity, integration, and influence
UK Government Programmes in Albania: Building long-term partnerships
Albania’s URAT Network: Overview of the unified national platform of NGOs combating human trafficking, with frontline insights into victim identification, rehabilitation, and reintegration
Law Enforcement and Migration Control: Practical overview of Albania’s policing and migration structures, and cooperation between units and international partners
Justice Sector Reform: The evolution of Albania’s justice sector and its alignment with EU frameworks
Organised Crime in Albania: Historical context, current trends, regional networks, and law enforcement challenges
Throughout the week, collaboration toward a shared objective was clearly demonstrated among law enforcement, third-sector organizations, and private-sector partners at both national and international levels.
