Marking the launch of the 16 Days of Activism to eliminate violence against women and girls, this year’s campaign spotlights the growing threat of online abuse. Gender-based violence, online and offline, remains one of Albania’s most urgent human rights challenges.

Albania’s first national assessment on women in tourism highlights opportunities and challenges to advance equality and inclusion across the industry.

Over 70 women-led businesses from across Albania joined investors and partners at the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025, advancing women’s economic empowerment. Organized by UN Women with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the EXPO is now a key platform driving investment in women-led enterprises.

In the center of Albania, the city of Elbasan has transformed a former orphanage into a day care center that supports vulnerable mothers and families, giving them a chance to work and rebuild their lives. The initiative, supported by UN Women and the European Union, turns gender equality policies into everyday change.

In Elbasan, women are reclaiming their livelihoods through traditional crafts and local partnerships, showing that economic empowerment and gender equality go hand in hand. Supported by UN Women and the European Union, this local effort turns gender equality policies into everyday change.

Gentiana Susaj, a 48-year-old human rights lawyer and accomplished Aikido black belt, is on a mission to help girls and women in Albania build their inner strength and learn to stand up for themselves through the unique program of Empowerment through Self-Defense (ESD).

Rural women are the backbone of Albania’s agrifood systems, yet they own just over 11 percent of the country’s agricultural land, according to a new FAO and UN Women assessment. The report calls for sex-disaggregated data, gender-sensitive policies, and coordinated actions to empower rural women and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

At the High-Level Meeting marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+30), the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, announced two priority actions: eliminating violence against women and expanding gender-responsive budgeting.

UN Women offices from eight Eastern European and Western Balkan countries met in Tirana to share knowledge, strengthen capacities, and shape a common vision for advancing gender equality through the EU accession process. The event underscored the power of cooperation and cross-border collaboration in accelerating women’s rights across the region.

In Albania, Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) has not only changed how public funds are planned and allocated, it has also changed lives. GRB ensures that budgets work for everyone. By taking into account the unique needs of women, men, girls, and boys, it strives for a fairer distribution of resources. This story follows the journeys of three women whose experiences reflect the impact of gender-sensitive investments: a young woman pursuing a military career, a 17-year-old girl studying in a male-dominated field, and an artist advocating for more women in the art scene.

A new generation of journalism students at the University of Tirana is discovering how reporting with a gender lens can drive real solutions. Through a mentorship program on solutions journalism, an approach that highlights how people and institutions address social challenges, students learned to move beyond stereotypes and tell stories of change.

With tourism on the rise in Albania, UN Women has been supporting self-defense trainings to empower over 230 women and girls working in hotels and hospitality. The initiative aims to build safety, confidence, and stronger workplace presence for women in one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.

At the University of Padua, Albanian journalism lecturers exchanged experiences with Italian peers to explore gender-sensitive media education, supported by UN Women to develop a similar module in Albania.

Vlora and Maliq have officially signed the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, advancing their commitment to building more inclusive and equitable communities. This milestone, part of the “EU for Gender Equality” project financed by the European Union, joins them to a network of over 2,000 municipalities across Europe working to promote gender equality at the local level.

This milestone reflected over a decade of transformative work across sectors—strengthening women leadership and decision making, supporting their economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and leveraging public resources to foster equal opportunities among women and men, girls and boys.

UN Women is pioneering a transformative approach to tourism, one that puts women at the center: as creators, leaders, and travelers.

Brigadier General Vehbije Kuti, Albania’s only woman general, stands as a powerful example of women’s leadership in peace and security. Her journey shows that with institutional support and zero tolerance for discrimination, women can thrive, and lead at the highest levels.

Three journalists were awarded for impactful reporting on women’s rights and gender equality in a national competition organized by the Albanian Women Empowerment Network, with support from UN Women and the UK Government. The event promoted quality journalism and sparked dialogue on the media’s role in advancing gender equality.

From turning food waste into growth to combining neuroscience, psychology, and virtual reality for anxiety and burnout relief, and creating educational games for children, 15 women entrepreneurs from across Europe and Central Asia have built innovative startups that are changing the world for the better.

With support from UN Women and funding from the British Embassy, 32 women entrepreneurs have launched or expanded their businesses, demonstrating how targeted training and mentoring help women build economic independence. Their recent gathering highlighted the programme’s impact and potential to scale.