One of the first challenges I was confronted with as an entrepreneur was earning the respect of male workers
Ejona Zaimaj, recalls her challenging journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur in Albania and explores her new possibilities. Learn more
"Implementing Norms, Changing Minds": A Successful Journey Against Gender-Based Violence
Civil society organizations, government representatives and partners met to take stock of achievements, challenges, and the way forward in Albania. Learn more
Nurturing Safer Digital Spaces: Empowering Youth Against Hate Speech in the Western Balkans
Fake news, misinformation, and hate speech are causing significant harm to mental health, exacerbating social divisions, and eroding trust in public institutions throughout the Western Balkans. Learn more
“Online is the new frontline for violence against women and girls”
Interview with Iris Luarasi, Director of the Counselling Line for Women and Girls, an organization in Albania, that manages the national helpline 116117 for women survivors of violence. Learn more
Highlights
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A beneficiary of the UN Women regional programme on Ending Violence against Women in the Western Balkans and Turkiye
International Women’s Day 2023: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”

The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023 (IWD 2023) is, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.

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EXPO2022
Women's Entrepreneurship EXPO 2022

Launched in 2021, the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO is a unique partnership platform to promote women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem building in the Europe and Central Asia region. EXPO provides an interactive space for women entrepreneurs, investors and private sector representatives for networking and collaboration, peer learning, ideas generation, capacity building and business development.

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Youth Boot Camp, Albania, March 2023
Nurturing Safer Digital Spaces: Empowering Youth Against Hate Speech in the Western Balkans

Fake news, misinformation, and hate speech are causing significant harm to mental health, exacerbating social divisions, and eroding trust in public institutions throughout the Western Balkans. Marginalized groups, particularly women and girls, are frequently targeted by hate speech. Of particular concern is the role of social media, which has become a fertile breeding ground for disinformation.

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People in Kyiv, Ukraine crowd the train stations trying to get out of the country during the Russian invasion, but the evacuation trains are not enough for all the people. 1 March 2022. Photo: Sebastian Backhaus/Agentur Focus/Redux.
In Focus: War in Ukraine is a crisis for women and girls

The war has severely impacted social cohesion, community security and the resilience of local communities, especially women and girls. Lack of access to social services including schools and strained community resources have increased the care burden of local women who responsible for the care for children, disabled and elderly family members.

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Equal City illustration
Equal City: A strong civic space for gender equality

Welcome to Equal City! Here, led by young women and men, civil society organizations (CSOs), local authorities, universities and media work together to advance women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Promoting women’s leadership and participation in the local elections is key for Albania
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Promoting women’s leadership and participation in the local elections is key for Albania

The local government elections on 14 May are an important opportunity to strengthen local democracy in Albania, and to consolidate past achievements in promoting women leadership in decision-making. Ahead of the start of the campaign, the United Nations in Albania reached out to political party leaders, advocating for women’s full and meaningful participation in local elections, and presenting a set of recommendations in three key areas. More