Albania Stands Together: Marking the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence

UN Women Albania partnered with the Government, civil society organizations, international partners, and UN agencies for this year’s commemoration of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Activities included sports events, community awareness campaigns, exhibitions, an award ceremony, the launching of a report, youth engagement initiatives, and private sector collaborations, all under the theme #NoExcuse – UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

Some of the main events are highlighted below:

The launching of the Report on Femicide: 32 women were killed in Albania in the last three years

For the first time since its establishment earlier this year, the Albanian Femicide Observatory within the Office of the People’s Advocate released a comprehensive report on the killings of women and girls and femicide, revealing that 32 women were killed in the country between 2021 and 2023. Nearly 90 per cent of killings (27) were committed by intimate partners or family members.

The report, developed by the People’s Advocate with the support of UN Women and the Government of Sweden, reveals that 24 of these cases were identified as femicides, which is defined as the intentional killing of women or girls due to gender-related motives. About 60 per cent of the femicides occurred in the victims’ own homes. These are some of the key findings presented in the report following a comprehensive analysis of murders of women and girls in Albania.

During the presentation of the report, The People’s Advocate, Erinda Ballanca, highlighted:

“Femicide is invariably the culmination of a long history of violence and discrimination that women endure every day. In Albania, this phenomenon is a social issue that demands a strong and uncompromising response from every institution and individual. We must recognize that femicide is not just a problem for the victims—it is a problem that affects us all. Each and every woman who dies because of violence represents a failure of society, of our institutions, and of our education on equality and mutual respect. This is an issue that requires immediate and coordinated action from all of us.“ More here

1152 Kilometers of Hope: Cycling Across Albania in 16 Days for a Violence-Free Future for Women and Girls

In the course of 16 days, a bold initiative swept through Albania, combining the power of sport with a compelling message to end gender-based violence. The Bike Relay, organized by UNDP, UN Women, and UNFPA in collaboration with We Bike Albania, spanned 1152 kilometers across 16 municipalities promoting the message #NoExcuse for violence against women and girls. Sport, as a universal language, became a powerful tool for social awareness and transformation throughout this campaign.

From the northern peaks to the southern coasts, cyclists Mejdin Malhani, coach of the Albanian Cyclist Team, and Bjarke Vodder Nielsen led the journey through towns and villages, demonstrating the strength and determination needed to confront societal challenges.

“We climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest – a total of 8849 meters in elevation – which is a symbol the monumental effort required to fight gender-based violence,” said Mejdin Malhani, reflecting on the emotional impact of the journey. “This experience made me feel stronger than ever – both in terms of tackling the harshness of nature and making a stand against violence. The hope in the eyes of young people filled me with profound inspiration.” More here

Award Ceremony for Professionals

Recognizing unsung heroes: UN Women and UN Agencies in Albania, together with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, honored 13 professionals, including police officers, activists, doctors, academics, and service providers for their unwavering dedication to protecting women and girls from abuse and violence. The award ceremony, which was part of the 16 Days of Activism events, was attended by around one hundred participants, including women’s rights activists, service providers, government officials and development partners in Albania whose tireless everyday work is dedicated to preventing and addressing gender-based violence everywhere.

Voices of Virtual Violence

The "Voices of Virtual Violence" exhibition by Albanian activist and journalist Zhaklin Lekatari provided a raw and powerful insight into the impact of online abuse. Through this unique art installation, Lekatari presented real-life hate messages received by her, categorized into four groups: men, women, adolescents, and individuals who make linguistic errors. By doing so, the exhibition underscores how words can transcend the virtual realm to inflict profound, lasting wounds in real people.

“This project is more than an art installation; it is a poignant reflection of the pervasive reality of online violence and its tangible consequences,” Zhaklin Lekatari highlighted. By amplifying the voices of victims, the exhibition challenges societal silence and urges accountability for the language we use. Visitors are invited to confront the emotional scars of online hate and explore paths of empathy, healing, and change.

Lekatari’s exhibition was supported by the French Embassy to Albania, the Albania Sustainable Development Organization and UN Women. This project aimed to foster collective reflection on the power of words. As she explains, “In this exhibition, we gave a voice to the victims of online violence —not to perpetuate pain, but to challenge society to build greater awareness and empathy.”

By placing the impact of virtual violence on women and girls at the forefront, the exhibition calls for societal transformation in addressing the real-world implications of digital hate speech. It serves as both a wake-up call and a platform for initiating meaningful dialogue.

Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities: Critical Challenges that Need to be Addressed!

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 and demonstrated their potential for leading dignified lives, despite numerous challenges. More here

Building Safety and Equality Through Self-Defense

Over 500 students, teachers, parents, and local authorities participated in Building Safety and Equality Through Self-Defense campaign in the framework of the 16 Days of Activism, aimed at addressing the root causes and consequences of gender-based violence. The campaign was organized by Empowerment through Self-Defense (ESD) Albania in partnership with local educational institutions, local authorities, and community organizations, with the support of UN Women and the Government of Sweden.

Held across eight municipalities in Albania, the initiative aimed to raise awareness, empower diverse groups, and promote the values of equality, respect, and safety through ESD principles. The campaign inspired students to become advocates for gender equality while fostering a collective sense of responsibility for combatting gender-based violence. A notable success was the increased participation of boys in ESD classes—an encouraging step toward inclusivity and shared accountability.

From bustling classrooms in big cities to those in more remote areas, the campaign broke barriers, reaching out with its message of safety and equality to underserved regions. Teachers and local officials praised the students' remarkable progress in confidence, boundary-setting skills, and understanding of gender equality.

A Digital Movement Against Gender-Based Violence

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2024, a dynamic and diverse digital campaign was launched to raise awareness and deliver empowering messages across a wide range of audiences. By collaborating with social media influencers, media outlets, and businesses, the campaign strategically targeted different communities to ensure maximum impact.

Influencers included a poet and writer who inspired followers with motivational messages promoting love, family, and life. A content creator made use of sarcasm and wit to engage her audience while hosting a heartfelt interactive Q&A session encouraging women and girls to share their experiences. A journalist and PR expert focused on simple yet impactful visuals for the #NoExcuses campaign, generating organic engagement and numerous among other influencers. Similarly, in addressing an audience of lifestyle and fitness enthusiasts, a personal trainer emphasized that violence is not strength but weakness, connecting this message to the topics of well-being and empowerment.

Additionally, the administrators of an online library and publishing partners creatively twisted classic book titles to highlight the issue of gender-based violence. UN Women also partnered with Cineplexx, the largest cinema chain in Albania, by showing compelling visuals before movie screenings, thus further engaging the public during peak entertainment hours. Further, collaboration with Anabel, one of the most popular youth-focused online media platforms in Albania, amplified the campaign’s outreach.

Collectively, these efforts resulted in close to one million views on social media, demonstrating the power of digital storytelling in driving awareness and inspiring action against gender-based violence.