Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would never have believed seven years ago, when I was filling out questionnaires about trafficking in Vlora, that it would give me the opportunity to expose the darkest, and the most tragic side of the lives of hundreds and thousands of Albanian girls, trafficked into prostitution.

Many years have passed since then. The pain, the suffering and the ordeals of hundreds of victims of this exploitation, have now become an inseparable part of my work and my daily life.

Coming into close contact with that harsh reality, is as painful as it is thrilling when you succeed in rescuing dozens of girls from the dangerous trafficking networks.

Convincing them to look at their life from a different perspective and giving them a helping hand to turn things around is the pleasure every mother feels when bringing up her children. I have felt the same for all the girls I have treated and helped over these years.

But the emotions I felt the day I was told I was being given the Anti-Slavery Award, are incomparable. I felt I was not alone in my work. I understood that the support for my staff and myself goes beyond the borders of my poor country. I understood that you, honourable ladies and gentlemen present in this audience, are close to me in every step I take against trafficking.

The Anti-Slavery Award is not a reward for my work alone. It also belongs to all the people I have close to me and who support my daily activity. When I was informed of this precious medal, my friends, and others who know me asked me to thank you and to express their deepest gratitude. They know that you are with them on the road ahead.

I am speaking on behalf of my family too. My son, my daughter, and my husband, who have been close to me and encouraged me in work, regardless of the risks. I also came here on behalf of my grandson who was born just a few months ago. I am convinced that I am striving for his future as well as for a society where there is no cruelty or exploitation.

When I decided to commit myself to fighting trafficking in human beings, life in my country was very tough. The traffickers, particularly in women, were strong, due to the weakness of the state. I knew that I would not face an easy task. The knowledge that I was putting my life at risk frequently crossed my mind every time I faced the traffickers. I felt that my life and that of my family's was constantly under threat from those who did not hesitate to sacrifice human lives in exchange for profit.

I had to take my family away from Vlora, the town where I live, to protect them from the increasing risk.

In those dark days, Vatra - which means The Hearth in Albanian - began to expand and consolidate.

I analysed all the cases I dealt with, defining the causes that promoted trafficking in human beings, especially in girls. These girls are not only victims but also the source of millions of dollars for the traffickers who force them into prostitution on the streets of western cities.

At the core of trafficking are economic forces, extreme poverty and lack of information in rural areas. Traffickers use the most ordinary methods to trick our girls, such as promises of marriage or false marriage. They go to families with young daughters, having carefully studied and identified them. A simple wedding ceremony then takes place and the girl leaves with her supposed 'husband' to Italy by speedboat. Very soon, she ends up on the streets of the cities of that country, or other European countries.

Rather than a better life, far from poverty or family problems, a girl is faced with a terrible reality. She is forced by the use of violence and constant rape to prostitute herself in order to gain great profits for the pimp. This episode occurred frequently in Albania a few years ago and continues today. Thousands of girls of different ages become prey to the traffickers, and subject to brutal exploitation. In this process they go through severe traumas, which they continue to suffer from throughout their lives. In the meantime, their parents and family members experience the most painful time. Later on, all this generates other consequences that become part of a social chain. Murders occur due to the desire for revenge and the wider society suffers.

Trafficking in human beings was one of the many problems that emerged in the 1990s, when my country began the transition to democracy after decades of being isolated from the world around us. My country not only became a place of transit, but later on, a country of origin for trafficking victims. Thousands of Albanian girls were involved, at first mainly from the rural areas but also from urban neighbourhoods as well.

The geographical position of Vlora and Albania provides regional and international traffickers with a convenient route to the West. They bring thousands of girls from Albania as well as from Moldova, Romania, Russia and other countries to Italy and other parts of Europe.

The Hearth at first focused on the prevention of this phenomenon. Hundreds of girls were interviewed and in co-operation with police they were returned to their families. In the meantime, I became engaged in awareness raising work throughout the Vlora region and beyond. Hundreds, even thousands of families, mothers, and young girls became aware of the dangers.

Nowadays many things have changed, compared to seven years ago. The traffickers are not the same as in those days, and their actions no longer go unchallenged. They have received a severe blow and I think they are retreating, but they are not defeated. On the contrary, they no longer operate as openly as before. They have changed their conduct, methods and appearance. They have become more professional and they think carefully over every step they take.

Our activities have also changed. Two years ago, we established a shelter to accommodate trafficked girls who had been rescued and deported. The role of this centre has been tailored to a changing reality. Currently, we offer psychological and medical services, as well as programmes for the preparation and reintegration of the girls into normal life through vocational and training opportunities.

During the last two years, nearly 500 girls from all over Albania and other countries have been accommodated in the shelter. Some of them have pressed charges against those who involved them in trafficking, prompting investigations into prominent members of trafficking networks. The majority of the girls who have been accommodated in the shelter are now living a normal life.

The Hearth is recognized all over the country for its counter-trafficking strategy. We have published studies and programmes in English and Albanian reflecting our experience in this activity.

There is still much to do to change people's attitudes towards trafficking. Only a few days ago, a very important television channel in Albania abused the naïveté of a girl we rescued from the traffickers, showing her clearly during the interview. I cannot forget the voice of that girl asking me to save her from the stigma she would face in her town, now they know about her past. She is staying in the shelter now, under our care, and I feel calmer about her. In the meantime, I have asked that certain aspects of the media in Albania stop being part of the problem and start helping to change the current reality. The fight against trafficking has been hard, and still much remains to be done.

At the moment we are facing big problems -- especially financial difficulties. As a result, on the 31st of December, our shelter will have to close. This means the 25 girls living there -- 13 of whom are acting as witnesses against their traffickers will be without secure shelter. They need protection -- but I don't know what will happen to them.

All of the international organisations operating in Albania and helping victims of trafficking deserve a part of this award for their efforts. I want to thank organisations such as DFID and Save the Children, which were the first to appreciate my work and to support me in establishing the first social centres that help victims of trafficking reintegrate into society.

Thanking Anti-Slavery International for this significant estimation of my work, I would like to emphasise that this award will help to increase my energy for the future.

I am sure that, you, honourable friends, ladies and gentlemen present here, will stand by my side in these efforts.

Thank you!