UN Women Albania, in partnership with the Government, civil society, international partners, and UN agencies, marked this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against GBV under the theme #NoExcuse – UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls. Activities included awareness campaigns, exhibitions, an award ceremony, youth initiatives, and private sector collaborations.

In this interview, Ulsi Manja, Minister of Justice of Albania, highlights the government's commitment to advancing gender equality through the justice system. He discusses the importance of gender-responsive budgeting, ongoing efforts to address the needs of women and girls, and key interventions such as free legal aid, humane conditions in penal institutions, and measures to combat gender-based violence.

People's Advocate along with the support of UN Women released a report on the killings of women and girls, as well as femicide, revealing that 32 women were killed between 2021-2023.

Women and girls with disabilities in Albania are not only faced with physical and structural barriers but also with the often less visible yet pervasive threat of gender-based violence. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, they shared their stories of resilience, despite numerous challenges.

The UN’s November 2024 Flagship Report on Disability and Development calls for accessible services, better data collection, and inclusive policies.

Monika Kocaqi has dedicated twenty-five years to preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in Albania and her work is far from over. She has led groundbreaking initiatives, including the early implementation of the Domestic Violence Protection Law, overcoming skepticism and driving systemic change. Monika Kocaqi supported the establishment for the first time of the Coordinated Referral Mechanisms and enhanced the legal knowledge of professionals. She has been at the forefront of initiatives like gender-responsive budgeting to secure vital services for survivors of gender-based violence. Her extensive work includes authoring over forty training manuals, strategies, and research studies on GBV and gender mainstreaming in Albania and beyond.

The media forum provided a dynamic space for knowledge exchange, interactive sessions, and collaboration with gender and human rights experts. Journalists were equipped with new tools to report on sensitive issues with accuracy and inclusivity, challenge harmful stereotypes, and adopt innovative approaches.

From 23 to 25 September, UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Director, Belen Sanz Luque, and the Deputy Regional Director, Elisa Fernandez Saenz conducted their first visit to Tirana to participate in the Beijing+30 International Conference and meet government representatives and funding partners in the country.

The revision of Albania’s 2008 Gender Equality Law is underway, as a concrete action following recommendations received by the UN Committee on the rights of women (UN CEDAW).

UN agencies, national and international partners, visit North Albania to assess progress of the UN Joint Programme on Ending Violence Against Women.

The week leading to International Women’s Day buzzed with various activities, ranging from a youth-led campaign addressing gender discrimination in the workplace to the launch of Albania's Femicide Watch. An interesting panel featuring only men offered intimate insights into their experiences with patriarchy, feminism, and women’s rights. These events, held in collaboration with governmental bodies, UN agencies, private sectors, and academia, underscored a collective effort to tackle gender inequality from various angles.

Over the past decades, women and girls around the world have demolished barriers, dismantled stereotypes and driven progress towards more just and equal societies. Women’s rights were recognised as fundamental and universal human rights.

On International Women’s Day, the People’s Advocate in cooperation with UN Women launched the ‘Femicide Watch’. This first of its kind initiative will collect and analyze data at the national level to promote more effective policies and mechanisms to prevent gender-based killings of women.

How a women’s rights organization and the National Employment and Skills Agency in Albania are joining forces to support women survivors of violence integrate in the job market.

Forty one percent of Albanian women active online have experienced some form of technology-facilitated violence in their lifetime – the new research “The Dark Side of Digitalization: Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” shows.

They are asking for increased long-term, sustainable investments from government, private sector, foundations, and other donors to prevent violence against women and girls.

In a dedicated effort to promote gender equality and eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, Albania is preparing for its fifth report to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), scheduled for October 18, 2023.

Interview with Michele Ribotta, Head of the UN Gender Group and UN Women Representative in Albania

Aferdita Kote’s* old Nokia phone had only one contact: that of her husband of 10 years. He called her constantly to know her whereabouts. But she did not tell him when she got a new smartphone equipped with a mobile application (Bright Sky) to report violence.

Fabiola Laço Egro is the founder and leader of the “Today for the Future” Community Center as well as a member of National Council of Civil Society in Albania and the Monitoring Network against Gender-Based Violence. One of the most prominent civil society activists in Albania, Ms. Laço Egro shares her perspectives and lessons learned on building networks and alliances to advance the gender equality agenda.