This publication compiles and analyses the results of Rapid Gender Assessment surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on violence against women (VAW RGAs) in Albania.

EU for Gender Equality in Albania continues the standing commitment of the EU to support equality of women and men, and to strengthen the integration of gender equality goals into policies and plans at the central and local government in Albania.

The purpose of UN Women’s Country Gender Equality Brief (CGEB) is to provide a snapshot of gender equality and the situation of women in Albania, particularly against the gender-related indicators across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following the UN Women corporate methodology and template, and in consultation with the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Albania, the CGEB is based on a literature review and uses official data produced before (and partially during) the COVID-19-induced crisis.

This publication has been produced by UN Women Albania to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on main challenges faced by women and men, and how the changing situation is affecting the socio-economic situation and livelihood of women and men.

In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the relatively limited data available, the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, through the Making Every Woman and Girl Count global programme, developed a rapid survey assessment tool to assess the gendered impacts of COVID-19 on the main challenges faced by on women and men lives and livelihoods.

Access to information and services is one of the many priorities raised by women and girls during meetings in the municipalities of Tirana, Durres, Lezha, Elbasan, Debar and Lushnja.

Women and girls’ roles in their homes and communities – such as domestic and unpaid care responsibilities and as frontline health and social sector responder roles – increase their exposure to COVID-19.

In May 2020, UN Women initiated online consultations with gender equality mechanisms from 14 countries in the Western Balkans and Turkey, Eastern Partnership and Central Asia sub-regions to discuss challenges and priorities for the gender dimensions of the short- and long-term COVID-19 response.

The report on “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on specialist services for victims and survivors of violence in the Western Balkans and Turkey: A proposal for addressing the needs” is a rapid assessment of specialist services to women who experienced violence to better understand the challenges posed to service delivery, as well as to explore new opportunities for innovative approaches in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid assessment was undertaken within the EU-UN Women Regional Programme “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds.”

To bring women’s views and solutions to the forefront of discussions and decisions on COVID-19 response, UN Women initiated rapid consultations with women’s organizations across the Europe and Central Asia region. The consultations provided an opportunity to hear directly about the specific risks and challenges that women and girls face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; they also focused on the opportunities and solutions they are providing so that the strategic focus of support can be adjusted in a gender-responsive manner to reflect their differentiated experience.

This dedicated protocol guides the operation of public and nonpublic residential centers providing shelter services to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking in Albania during the COVID-19 pandemic.