It may sound surreal but since 2017, at least 235 parents have been processed by law enforcement for abandoning their children.
The majority did this intestinally, with hopes of a better life in European countries.
Euronews Albania was able to obtain testimony from one of the parents who left her three children behind in Germany.
“I left my children behind on purpose in their asylum, in a room they were staying in, in the village of Ferne at the Sellzkoten commune in Germany – and I came back to Albania. I thought that they would be offered better conditions and a better life,” – said the convicted mother, M.L.
This was the testimony of a mother that was convicted by the Albanian court system.
The majority of cases took place in 2017, whereas in 2021, a total of 26 parents were investigated.
“I declare that the reason for my actions was because here in Albania, our children have no future. My son was passionate about going abroad and I am glad that he was able to pass over to England. I’ve heard that a human being there is treated better than here and [my son] can now start a new life,” – said another convicted parent, R.L.
Based on investigations, in most cases, the minors that are left behind in European countries, illegally pass the border to Great Britain by hiding in a truck or by sea.
“My son called me and told me that he a woman who was originally from India had taken him in. She was divorced and had a daughter. He would go to school and was doing well with his studies. He hadn’t faced any issues in England and didn’t want to come back,” – said another convicted parent, S.J.
According to a report by Save the Children, Albanian minors who have emigrated to Italy without their parents, rank second, amongst youth from all over the world.
But there are also cases when parents leave the country and abandon their children – leaving them to the mercy of fate.
A woman convicted by Tirana’s District Court was been taken away her parenting right, after an investigation that began following a denouncement by a social worker in the municipality of Kamez.
This woman had left behind her 3 children, all of whom were minors, the oldest was 12 and the other two, 10 and 5.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
