Gentiana Susaj, the human rights lawyer empowering women in Albania through martial arts

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).

Combining two decades of expertise in addressing anti-human trafficking and gender issues with her passion for martial arts, she has now dedicated her life to educating and empowering women and youth in her country to prevent violence against women.

Implementing the ESD method into Albania’s youth national policy and schools stands as a powerful testament to her persistent dedication to the fight for women's rights.

Susaj now serves as a coordinator of the ESD Europe Network, leading ESD programs across the region.

“My younger self would never believe that I would be where I am today.” –Gentiana Susaj

Growing up: Between the beauty of nature and a society of oppression

As she sits in a sunlit office in Tirana, Albania’s capital, she recalls her childhood among beautiful mountains, rivers and lakes. But all that beauty was in stark contrast to what Susaj remembers as a society with countless limitations on freedoms.

“It is well known that Albania was under a rigid communist ideology, extreme isolation, and a fervent commitment to building a socialist utopia. The most challenging thing for me was dealing with the fear of not being able to stand up or speak my mind,” she recalls.

It was during those formative years that she first experienced the many societal expectations and pressures imposed on women and girls, who were, as Susaj describes, often told how to behave, what to do, and especially what not to do.

“I was very lucky to be surrounded by strong women in my family," she adds, giving a nod to the women in her life for allowing her the time to study and pursue her interests.

I was very lucky to be surrounded by strong women in my family." 
–Gentiana Susaj

From human rights champion to women empowerment sensei

Years into her international human rights advocate career, Susaj discovered Aikido, the modern Japanese martial art, which she began practicing after a family class with her two sons. In 2018, she earned a black belt (Shodan), becoming the first woman in Albania to achieve such a distinction.

“I am really proud of it because it required a lot of determination to keep training,” she says, while carefully holding a rolled black strip of cloth. For Susaj, this belt symbolizes a new chapter in her life and serves as a reminder that once you have your goals clearly defined, you can reach them.

This experience led her to reassess her priorities. Recognizing that “the laws and traditional awareness-raising campaigns were not enough,” she felt a need for a different approach to prevent violence.

“You need to work on the interior being of the person and help them feel and own their power,” she notes. This is when Susaj made one of the boldest decisions of her life - founding Aikido Albania, the first woman-led martial arts center in the country, aiming to use Aikido to empower survivors of human trafficking and violence.

“Everyone told me, ‘This will not work. No one will join, especially because you’re a woman,’” she recounts the skepticism. But she defied these doubts.

Empowerment self-defense: A holistic approach

Driven by a desire to make a meaningful contribution to her country, Susaj developed a successful pilot program that combined Aikido, mindfulness and self-defense techniques for 60 students, many survivors of human trafficking.

Positive feedback inspired her to find a program based on these principles. Empowerment Self-Defense seemed like a perfect fit. After getting certified as a coach in 2019, she introduced ESD to Albania, becoming a self-defense empowerment sensei in her own right.

“That was the tool I had been waiting for. I became so passionate about it that I decided to focus only on this,” she says. These holistic programs combine physical techniques with psychological empowerment to build confidence, healthy relationships and prevent violence.

According to Susaj, it starts with recognizing the power to set boundaries and stand up for oneself, whether physically or emotionally. “Once you embody that power, you become more capable of supporting others on their path to empowerment,” she notes.

With support from UN Women and other partners, Susaj has reached over 6,000 women, girls and individuals from all walks of life through ESD over the past six years. Her advocacy played a key role in the inclusion of ESD in Albania’s National Strategy for Youth, leading to the establishment of ESD Clubs in 60 public schools in 2022 and reaching over 3,000 children and youth.

Furthermore, she organized training for some 200 trainers, including teachers, educators, professionals such as psychologists, martial artists or lawyers - both locally and abroad. “All these different profiles in our group of instructors make ESD beautiful, rich, and accessible to different groups that need it to create safe communities,” she says.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many women faced further isolation and domestic abuse, Susaj recognized the importance of keeping the training going, both online and in person. She recalls outdoor classes organized in 2020, in partnership with UN Women and the Swedish government.

“We were able to continue raising awareness, providing skills and knowledge to women and girls so they could have healthy relationships and defend themselves, if necessary,” she says.

By equipping women and youth with tools to prevent and resist violence, building their confidence, and embedding these practices into national policies, Gentiana Susaj’s work contributes to the “Zero violence” area of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, a voluntary, action-oriented platform to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda.

Determination to keep on fighting for change

Susaj is inspired by the “small wins” and feedback from students who share how ESD helped them stand up for themselves or set boundaries just after a few classes.

“These success stories keep us motivated to keep going and fuel our belief that this is something we need to do – to educate, especially young generations, in order to have a healthy society,” she says.

As a mother of two sons, she believes that teaching young men to respect all genders is crucial for societal change. “We need everyone to contribute to safety, support and equality,” she asserts.

Susaj’s guiding principles are passion, vision and determination. “And when determined, we can adapt, remain resilient, and fight for the change we want,” she says.

Reflecting on her journey, Susaj emphasizes the importance of fortitude and self-belief.

“Don’t hold back. Be empowered,”

is the message she would give to her younger self.

Today, Susaj continues to champion the ESD method, inspiring women and girls in Albania and beyond.

And just as the majestic mountains of northern Albania, which she admired growing up, stand as a stunning testament to nature's strength, Gentiana Susaj’s story embodies the power of the human spirit and the extraordinary impact one person can have on the world.

There is no doubt that her legacy will live on.

This story is a part of the Beijing+30 regional communications campaign ‘Unstoppable’, aimed at marking the 30th commemoration of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The views expressed in this story are those of the protagonist and the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, the United Nations, or any of its affiliated organizations.