Take Five: Responding to the Unique Challenges of Women and Girls, Leaving No One Behind

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. The Minister also emphasizes the alignment of these initiatives with international frameworks and Albania’s EU accession goals, underscoring a sustained effort to build a justice system that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible to all.

1. In your opinion, how important is it to address the rights of women and girls in the justice system in Albania through funding for gender equality?

Funding for gender equality through gender-responsive budgeting is one of the most important interventions by the Albanian Government to address the needs of women and men in various areas of life. The Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, emphasize gender equality as essential to achieving other goals. International frameworks endorsed by Albania, like CEDAW, GREVIO recommendations, and the Beijing +30 process, stress that effective policies to reduce gender inequalities require adequate funding. Only with sufficient financing can policies bring real change to the lives of women and men in Albania.

The justice system in Albania has undergone significant changes, not only in how citizens, both women and men, access it, but also in how the system itself serves women and men. As a country aspiring to join the broader European family, we must fulfill several accession criteria, the most important of which is the establishment of an equal society where women and men enjoy equal rights in all areas of life. EU legislation recognizes gender discrimination as a violation of fundamental human rights and a barrier to achieving equality, economic growth, and social cohesion. Thus, our government is required to meet the acquis requirements for gender equality and non-discrimination as part of the EU accession process. The justice system in Albania has increasingly prioritized the needs and rights of women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable groups. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by them, Albanian institutions are committed to creating a justice system that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all. Efforts are underway to ensure that every woman and girl can access justice safely and equally, with a guarantee of fair treatment under the law.

2. How are the needs of women and girls addressed and budgeted by the institution you lead, and what are the main challenges you face?

Ministry of Justice is part of the implementation of the gender equality strategy which is one of the most important documents regarding issues of inequality between women and men in the country. The ministry's role is primarily linked to the measures outlined in five objectives that involve: free legal aid for women and girls in need; creating suitable conditions for those serving sentences in Penal Execution Institutions (PEIs); funding various NGOs that address the needs of women and girls, etc. Additionally, the policies developed by the Ministry of Justice also focus specifically on gender equality issues. These policies are grounded in a thorough analysis of the needs and demands of women and girls on issues central to the ministry's mandate. By integrating gender considerations into targeted measures and activities, the ministry ensures that its initiatives are responsive to the unique challenges faced by women and girls, leaving no one behind.

Policies, measures, and activities are further translated into necessary budgets for their implementation. Currently, the Ministry of Justice has nine main policy directions, which have been translated into budgetary programs that specify not only the goals and objectives to be achieved but also the necessary budgets for addressing them. Among the most important objectives of these policies is the provision of free legal aid, especially for women and girls in need, as well as the opportunity for alternative sentencing, particularly for mothers with children.

One of the main challenges is collecting accurate data and conducting comprehensive analyses, where gender-based data analysis is essential to understanding and addressing needs.

3. What are some of the activities budgeted and carried out by the Ministry of Justice that address these needs?

In the last three years, the budget allocated for the Ministry of Justice shows that measures addressing gender inequality issues constitute about 2% of the total. Out of nine budget programs, six directly address: access for women and girls to justice; equal treatment before the law in penal institutions and providing reintegration opportunities; ensuring the possibility of alternative sentencing for women and girls to keep them with their families; enforcing protection orders for women and girls who are victims of domestic violence; ensuring the implementation of essential food pensions for many mothers with children in cases of divorce; and providing equal opportunities for single women and/or single men to adopt children. In 2022, around 11 million lek were allocated for accurate and professional examinations for cases of sexual violence, ensuring necessary materials for these examinations and training medical staff. As we know, preparing complete reports is crucial in addressing violence in judicial bodies. In 2022, 3,036 women and girls in need received free legal aid. A total of 7,500 food pensions were granted to survivors of violence. 86 women and girls in PEIs were provided with humane and safe living conditions and reintegration opportunities through vocational courses. In 2025, all these measures will continue to be included in the respective program budgets, with an increase in the number of benefiting women and girls as well as in the corresponding budgets. In 2025, around 185 million lek are estimated to be spent on achieving objectives in various programs and policies of the Ministry of Justice. The largest portion of the budget, about 100 million lek, will be used by the Enforcement Service for executing protection orders, approximately 27 million for providing free legal counseling and representation in court for women and girls, 7.5 million for ensuring living conditions and reintegration for women and girls in PEIs, and 4.3 million lek for examinations and report preparation for sexual crimes, etc.

4. In your judgment, how effective have these measures been in addressing the needs of women and girls?

These measures are not short-term initiatives; they are embedded in the Ministry of Justice's multi year policies and budget plans, underscoring their importance. Especially, the rise in demand for free legal aid, trust in this service and in the justice system. Additionally, meeting the requirements of the Istanbul Convention regarding professional examinations of cases of sexual violence is an essential measure for justice for victims.

Notably, the rise in demand for free legal aid among women and girls reveals a growing trust in this service—and in the justice system itself. Furthermore, the Ministry's commitment to upholding the Istanbul Convention’s standards, particularly in the professional examination of sexual violence cases, marks a vital step toward delivering justice for victims. These initiatives reflect a sustained, strategic approach to building a more accessible and supportive justice system for all.

5. What are the next interventions to address the needs of women and girls in the justice system?

Beyond existing measures, the aim is to increase access to justice for more women and girls to guarantee complete justice and an equal society. Improving the quality and integrity of fundamental rights for women and girls in PEIs remains an ongoing priority, while opening a new institution with better conditions is seen as an opportunity to enhance their reintegration into society.