In the early and mid-1990s, after the overthrow of the communist regime in Albania, migration from rural areas to more developed ones was perceived as one of the main ways to escape poverty. Albanians did not restrict their movements to the country, however. They also migrated abroad. Despite the economic advantages of migration, it led to severe social and economic consequences at home, including the trafficking of women and children.

Trafficking remains a hot topic in the Balkan region. The problem is linked to the regional political, economic and social upheavals of the 1990s, which not only paved the way for organized crime but also increased the vulnerability among women and children for trafficking. Each country in the Balkans has a specific set of conditions that has engendered trafficking. The years between 1992 and 1997 will be remembered in Albania as the time when many types of trafficking thrived—especially that of young women and children.

This report gathers and analyzes information on human trafficking in Albania and explores its relationship to the economic opportunities (or lack thereof) among women in that country. The research arose out of a significant need for data and analysis on trafficking in Albania, as well as a deeper understanding of the role that employment plays in human trafficking.

The overarching goal of the report is to provide evidence-based analysis that can serve as a mechanism for change. By providing recommendations for the prevention of human trafficking and the repatriation and social integration of trafficking victims, the authors specifically intend to help national women's groups and other intermediary organizations: 1) identify and understand the issue of human trafficking; 2) design strategies to increase employment opportunities for Albanian women; and thus 3)improve the ways to achieve gender equality in Albania.