UN Women Albania marks International Women’s Day with dialogue, sports and partnerships for equality
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To mark the International Women’s Day, UN Women Albania brought together representatives from institutions, the civil society, the private sector and communities for a series of activities promoting women’s rights, their access to justice and participation in all areas of life.
From high-level policy dialogue to community engagement and sports initiatives, the activities highlighted the importance of collective action to advance gender equality in Albania.
High-level dialogue on strengthening women’s access to justice in Albania
A high-level dialogue in Tirana brought together representatives from government institutions, the justice sector, the civil society, and international partners, to discuss how Albania can strengthen women’s access to justice and protection from gender-based violence.
The discussion focused on improving legal aid, strengthening institutional coordination, and ensuring effective protection mechanisms. Evidence presented during the event highlighted persistent gaps, including limited access to legal representation for survivors.
Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women for Europe and Central Asia, emphasized the importance of justice systems that respond to women’s needs: “Access to justice is a fundamental enabler of all other rights. Without access to justice, women cannot exercise legal protection and cannot participate fully in economic, political and civic life.”
The dialogue also examined the progress made through Albania’s justice reform and international commitments to strengthen the protection of women’s rights.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the People’s Advocate, and UN Women Albania. It was supported by the Government of Sweden, with the participation of the EU Ambassador to Albania and the UN Resident Coordinator.
“On this International Women’s Day, we are reminded of the pressing need to ensure that every woman and girl has full access to justice – without barriers, discrimination, or violence. Because when justice works for women, it strengthens democracy and the rule of law for all,” said Ingrid Macdonald, UN resident Coordinator in Albania.
Promoting empowerment through sport
As part of the celebrations, UN Women Albania, together with the Albanian Football Federation and the United Nations in Albania, organized the third women’s mini football tournament. Bringing together civil society activists, journalists and representatives of private sector, including Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) signatories, the tournament continues to grow each year, promoting teamwork and inclusion in sports.
In her address at the event, Elisa Fernandez Saenz, emphasized the role sport plays in promoting equality and inclusion: “Sport unites people and teaches us about fairness, respect, and teamwork. Equality is not a competition but a collective effort where everyone can participate, contribute and thrive.”
Former football player and U15 girls’ coach, Rabije Tota, encouraged young girls to pursue their ambitions: “My message to young girls is to fight for their dreams, make sacrifices and believe that they will achieve the results they have always hoped for.”
In parallel, UN Women Albania joined the “She Runs” 5 km Marathon, organized by Empowerment through Self-Defense and Tirana Running Club, to promote women’s visibility in public spaces.
Recalling the theme of International Women Day, ‘Rights. Justice. Action for All Women and Girls’, Mr. Michele Ribotta, UN Women Representative to Albania, reminded participants that 'We must stand up, show up, and speak up, for rights, justice, action, so all women and girls can live safely, speak freely, and exist equally.’
Intesa Sanpaolo Bank and Credins Bank – members of the WEPs community in Albania – supported the initiative financially, demonstrating increased business engagement in advancing gender equality.
Dialogue with WEPs signatory explores unconscious bias in the workplace
UN Women Albania and the Albanian Electricity Distribution Operator (OSHEE) organized an open discussion on unconscious bias and its impact on workplace relationships and decision-making.
Through an interactive and reflective conversation, participants shared experiences and explored ways to build fairer, safer, and more inclusive work environments. The discussion highlighted how unconscious biases can shape professional interactions and opportunities, and the importance of addressing them to promote gender equality at work.
As a new signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), OSHEE reaffirmed its commitment to taking concrete steps to advance gender equality and promote respect and inclusion in the workplace.
Discussion with students on the new Gender Equality Law
UN Women Representative in Albania, Michele Ribotta, joined Prof. Evis Sala, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, in a dialogue with students and teaching staff of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana.
The conversation focused on the new Law on Gender Equality, with the aim of informing students about its key features and addressing their questions. “Equality on paper is not equality in life,” the Minister noted, stressing that the new law represents a clear political commitment to placing gender equality at the center of development, democracy, and social well-being.
Asked about the key factors influencing the success of gender equality policies, Mr. Ribotta highlighted two aspects: “First, making sure that women are at the table when gender equality policies are discussed, and second, generate and use sex disaggregated data to understand the extent of inequality being addressed, and to monitor progress during implementation”, noting that these elements are both central to the new law.
The new law clarifies the roles and responsibilities of key actors in advancing gender equality, including public institutions, the private sector, and the media. The law incorporates EU legislation prohibiting gender-based discrimination in employment relations, recognizes the value of unpaid work, and promotes equal and inclusive representation of women and men in decision-making.
Strengthening partnerships for gender equality
During her visit to Albania, Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women for Europe and Central Asia met with representatives from the United Nations system, government institutions, development partners, and regional organizations to discuss strengthening cooperation on gender equality, women’s access to justice and inclusive development.
Meetings with key partners, including UN Resident Coordinator Ingrid Macdonald, the European Union in Albania, Sida, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and national authorities, emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure that rights, justice, and opportunities reach all women and girls.
The visit also highlighted Albania’s progress in areas such as women’s economic participation and political empowerment, while acknowledging persistent challenges, including gender-based violence, structural inequalities, and harmful social norms.
Elisa Fernandez Saenz also joined several International Women’s Day events, underlining that gender equality is not only a policy priority but also a shared responsibility across institutions, communities, and generations.