“The Untold Stories 2”

UNICEF Albania has the pleasure to launch the call of “The Untold Stories 2”, a national photography competition, following the success of its first edition in 2021, which is open for participation to all Albanians living in the country or abroad. The competition explores the level of awareness of the Albanian public on human trafficking, a phenomenon that touches the lives of many women and men in Albania, particularly of children, making them vulnerable and prone to trafficking exploitation that could lead to lifelong consequences that require years of special assistance and provision of services towards a complete reintegration and recovery. 

Tell us how YOU perceive it, the survival and hope, the social, psychological and economic impact that human trafficking has on our society and the involved victims, and enter this competition to join forces with a solid programmatic intervention that addresses human trafficking in the country. Check out https://www.unicef.org/albania/ to learn more and get inspired, let’s do more together to contribute to raising awareness on this issue in Albania.

The participants can submit their entries by email at

photo.competition@mda.al

The extended deadline to submit the written essay is 30 June 2022, 23:59.

Who can participate?

1. This competition is open to Albanians living in the country or abroad;
2. This competition is open to non-professional photographers only.

How it works

1. The submitted photographs should be sent as attachments via email to: photo.competition@mda.al, no later than 23:59 on 12/06/2022;
2. A series of up to five (5) photographs can be submitted by each participant;
3. Every submitted photograph should be named in the following order: name surname_number of photo;
4. The participant should include their contact information, email and phone number in the application email;
5. The participant should confirm in writing via the application email that they are the author and owns the photo copyrights;
6. Entering this competition does not limit the participant to enter other competitions launched by UNICEF Albania, provided that all competition guidelines are respected.

Specification of the photographs:

1. The photos should show the author’s vision on trafficking in human beings, how and why the photo was taken, what they would like to convey to the viewer;
2. If the photos include a physical person(s), they should not be identifiable, or the photographer should have the consent of the person/s captured in the photo prior to using their image;
3. The photos should include a title/short caption, which needs to be inserted in the application email, corresponding with the names of the attached photos;
4. The photos should depict images that relate to modern slavery, human trafficking, forms of exploitation including online threats, the impact of human trafficking on individual and family lives, survival stories, how human trafficking affects youth and children, etc.;
5. The photos can be taken by a professional camera, a non-professional camera or a smartphone;
6. The photos can only go through basic editing (no photo montage and/or manipulation allowed);
7. The photos should be in high resolution, JPEG format, no watermarks.

Selection of the winners

1. The selection jury is composed of competent, professional and impartial individuals, making sure all competition guidelines and procedures are implemented correctly during the assessment and awarding process;
2. Winners will be notified beforehand and announced publicly at the exhibition;
3. The jury members and their close family members are not eligible to apply for this competition.

Guidelines to choose the Winners:

1. The specifications of the photos are duly applied;
2. The idea, concept and originality of the photo are central to the evaluation process;
3. The message: The photos should be powerful, inspirational and empowering and clearly associated to the suggested theme;
4. The photos should aim to create an overall impact and visual appeal to the general audience.

Copyright of the Selected Entries:

1. The author will sign a document to grant UNICEF Albania the copyright of their photo(s);
2. UNICEF Albania will print a selection of the photos to display in a dedicated exhibition in Tirana and/or elsewhere;
3. For awarded entries, the copyright holder/author grants UNICEF Albania unlimited exclusive use of high-resolution photos for activities in all media outlets, including social media and online and print media, in relation to the contest, the exhibition, the public archive, and all promotional and educational activities without any remuneration being due;
4. The conditions set out in the Entry Rules are binding, and UNICEF Albania reserves the right to refuse or exclude any entry, if considered as not abiding with the terms and conditions of this call.

The Prize(s)

1. Three winners will be selected. Each will win an INSTAX MINI 11;
2. Each winner will be notified by phone and email. All participants must provide correct names, telephone numbers and email addresses;
3. If a winner cannot be notified within seven (7) days, or does not respond, the prize will be awarded to the following ranking participant assigned by the jury; 
4. There will be no substitutions or cash alternatives for the prize;
5. The photos will be presented and displayed in a public exhibition;
6. The awards will be delivered by a UNICEF Albania representative in a special ceremony at the exhibition.

Exhibition:

1. A dedicated public exhibition will be organized displaying a selection of the best participating photos;
2. The displayed photos will be printed in the same format and measures, as advised by UNICEF Albania;

A selection of the best photos will be included in the printed booklet that will be produced at the end of the competition.