Albania

In Albania, we work to give groups that are being discriminated against access to the legal system. We cooperate with legal aid associations who specifically address women, Roma or persons with disabilities. In 2008, our work contributed to giving Albania a Legal Aid Act. We also work with ethical issues and self-censorship within the media.

• The role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: Challenges as an opportunity

  2011-11-22 - Albania
  

  Civil Rights Defenders is organising a two-day regional conference in cooperation with Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) on the theme “The role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: Challenges as an opportunity“. The conference will be held in Sarajevo, November 22-23. Journalists, activists and civil society organisations from the [...]

• The situation of Human Rights and Rule of Law in Albania

  2011-03-23 - Albania
  

  On the 21st of January a demonstration organized by the opposition and held in Tirana ended in violent clashes between police forces and demonstrators. As a result, four persons were killed and large numbers were injured both among the protesters and the police. Many demonstrators were detained. It is not clear when they will be [...]

• Improving protection against discrimination in cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC)

  2010-11-17 - Albania
  

  Our cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC) in this specific project aims at improving the situation regarding protection against discrimination in Albania. We do this by raising capacities of our legal aid partners and the Institution of the Commissioner against Discrimination in handling cases of discrimination as well as increase the capacities of lawyers, people from public structures and civil society to understand and follow cases of discrimination.

• Raising awareness of the new non-discrimination law in cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC)

  2010-11-17 - Albania
  

  Albania has adopted an all-inclusive anti-discrimination law and we raise need to awareness on the new law particularily among faculty students and professors as well as teachers and pupils from high schools for it to be effective in protecting against discrimination.

• ”Our Rights” at film festival in Albania

  2010-10-10 - Albania
  

  Civil Rights Defenders exhibition ”Our Rights” will be shown at the fifth edition of the International Human Rights Film Festival in Albania. Our Programme Officer Peter Mossop will be participating at the festival. The organizers themselves present the ideas and aims of the festival in the following way: Human Rights in Albania have been an [...]

• Human rights in Albania

  2010-09-01 - Albania
  

  (Updated in September 2010) The parliamentary election held in June 2009, has had far reaching consequences for political developments in Albania. OSCE described the election as marking progress compared to past elections, but not fully realizing international standards. The Democratic Party (DP) won a narrow victory over the Socialist Party (SP), which still does not [...]

• Albania condemned for violating the right to a fair trial

  2010-05-10 - Albania
  

  On April 20 the European Court of Human Rights condemned Albania for having violated the right to a fair trial and the prohibition against torture in the case Lika and Laska vs Albania.

• Court rules against lustration law

  2010-04-20 - Albania
  

  On March 23, 2010 the Albanian Constitutional Court decided to abolish the controversial Lustration Law (targeting former officials of the communist regime) as incompatible with the Albanian constitution. The abolition is a success for our partner Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC).

• Strengthening women’s rights – in cooperation with Centre for Legal and Civil Initiatives

  2010-04-09 - Albania
  

  Our cooperation with Centre for Legal and Civil Initiatives, CLCI, aims at increasing women’s access to justice. This is done by providing free legal assistance, monitoring the implementation of the Law on domestic violence, and organising awareness raising activities in regard to women’s rights among the general population.

• Improving media ethics – in cooperation with Albanian Media Institute

  2010-03-09 - Albania
  

  With the aim to improve Albanian media’s ethical conduct, and contribute to an increased self-regulation of media, we organise in-house training courses on ethics and self-regulation for media outlets together with our partner Albanian Media Institute. These trainings are a supplement to the efforts of establishing and implementing a formalised self-regulation mechanism in the country.

• Empowering the most vulnerable – in cooperation with Tirana Legal Aid Society

  2010-03-09 - Albania
  

  Since 2006 Civil Rights Defenders has cooperated with Tirana Legal Aid Society, TLAS, in assisting Roma families to register their children, but also other members of the families, in order to help them get access to some of the most fundamental human rights; such as the right to education, health care, social allowances, as well as the possibility to get a legal employment and the right to vote in general elections. Hundreds of families have been assisted through our joint efforts so far.

• Albania adopts all-inclusive anti-discrimination law

  2010-03-02 - Albania
  

  Albanias new all-inclusive anti-discrimination law bans discrimination on the grounds of various characteristics, such as political, religious or philosophical beliefs, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Strengthening the rights of people with disabilities – in cooperation with Albanian Disability Rights Foundation

  2010-02-15 - Albania
  

  In cooperation with Albanian Disability Rights Foundation we provide legal aid to persons with disabilities, and to their families. Our efforts include raising awareness and recognition of human rights by spreading information to stakeholders that are one way or the other involved in disability issues, but also to the general public.

• Human rights defenders threatened for helping victim of domestic violence

  2010-02-12 - Albania
  

  The address to a shelter for victims of domestic violence was revealed on TV, endangering the safety of the victims as well as the staff of the shelter. In a letter we urge the Minister of Justice to protect victims of domestic violence as well as human rights defenders  in Albania.

• Work for disabled people’s rights awarded

  2010-02-03 - Albania
  

  Civil Rights Defenders partner Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF), has received the “Albanian Leadership Award 2009″ for its efforts within civil society. The prize is awarded to highlight positive role models and innovations that strengthen ethical standards in Albanian society.

• Journalist brutally attacked by businessman

  2009-11-10 - Albania
  

  A well known albanian journalist was brutally attacked following a series of reports about tax evasion, unlawful privatisation and oil smuggling. We demand from the authorities to investigate the case and bring those responsible before justice.