In the last two years, thanks to support from the European Union-funded regional programme on ending violence against women “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds,” more than 3,000 women survivors have used the helpline for information, referrals and reporting – 900 of whom further obtained free legal aid and psychosocial counselling as well as referrals to more specialized support services.

The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, Åsa Regnér, visited Albania to meet with high level government representatives, civil society organizations and international partners.

UN Women’s first regional “Women’s Entrepreneurship Expo” in Europe and Central Asia will be held virtually with the participation of hundreds of women entrepreneurs from 12 countries. The Expo aims to support and empower women entrepreneurs during and after COVID-19.

Building back better from COVID-19 needs investment in feminist, grass-roots leadership. Yet, direct funding to women’s organizations accounts for less than one per cent of the global official development assistance provided for gender equality. In six stories, learn about the critical support that grass-roots women leaders and their organizations bring to their communities.

A local women’s organization supported by UN Women and the EU provided survivors of domestic violence with essential needs and psychological and legal support during the pandemic in Albania.

Jana Kote* and her three children lived with an abusive husband and father for 12 years until they received support from a local organization, Human Rights in Democracy Centre, based in Tirana, the capital of Albania.

Periana Bodinaku was the first Albanian girl who asked to be enrolled in the Police Academy in 1993 and in only five months managed to pave the way for many future women police officers.

The UN Women Rapid Gender Assessment survey revealed that the burden of household and care responsibilities were not distributed evenly, as only 46 per cent of women versus 67 per cent of men in Albania reported receiving help from their partner. Daniela Fejzaj, a 40-year-old information technology professional and mother of two, recalls the endless chores during the COVID-19 lockdown.

When it comes to advancing gender equality and improving the lives of women and girls, we often hope to create positive changes in people’s behaviour. This might include stopping harmful practices, such as domestic violence, or starting positive practices, like encouraging girls to attend and excel in school.

In response to COVID-19, staff at the Woman Forum Elbasan (WFE) in Albania immediately began to work from home and adapt their services for survivors of domestic violence, all too aware of the sharp increase in violence against women and girls worldwide occurring during the pandemic.

The survey measured the socio-economic impact of the pandemic and how it affected the livelihoods of women and men. It shows that COVID-19 has been disproportionately affecting women compared to men, and risks to deepen gender inequalities.

Women’s organizations across Eastern Europe and Central Asia urged governments and development partners to recognize the unique and vital needs of women and girls in pandemic response and recovery efforts. Activists warned the international community that the world risks a roll back in women’s rights if necessary efforts are not urgently undertaken.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the government of Albania adopted a dedicated protocol on 10 April to ensure undisrupted functioning of shelters during the COVID-19 emergency in Albania. According to the new protocol, domestic violence shelters are declared as essential services and must remain open and accept new survivors of gender-based violence.

UN Women has been liaising with different women’s rights groups and civil society organizations to get a better understanding of the situation and look at ways to respond to specific vulnerabilities.

Women are playing a key role—often disproportionate to men—in responding to the disease, as frontline healthcare workers, as well as care givers at home. Experience of other disease outbreaks shows that they have the highest risk to be infected. Almost 12 per cent of Albania’s reported cases of coronavirus have been health workers, but no fatalities have been reported yet.

A week since The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, the social impact of the Corona Virus is hitting women hard, around the world. Globally, women make up 70 per cent of workers in the health and social sector, and they do three times as much unpaid care work at home as men. As first responders, frontline health workers, primary care givers at home and community mobilizers, women are at increased risk of exposure to the virus. They are also playing a disproportionate role in responding to the disease.

Bajana Ceveli is the Executive Director of the Association for Women’s Security and Peace (AWSP) in Albania. Over the past three years, the Association, with the support of UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, helped draft a National Action Plan (NAP) on UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which was adopted in September 2018. Ms. Ceveli spoke to UN Women about her personal motivation and why the National Action Plan is important for women.