Albanian Legislative Review from Gender Equality Perspective - Achievements and Challenges

Elona Dini

doi:10.11114/ijsss.v9i2.5148

Abstract

Gender-based and domestic violence happens in all societies all over the world. During the last decade in Albania gender - based violence has become more visible as a major problem. Domestic violence has been considered as a private matter and not a society issue. Albania did not recognize existence of domestic violence until 2006, when it adopted the Law on Measures against Violence in Family Relations. Official data show an increase in the general prevalence of violence against women in the family, from 56% in 2007 to 59.4% in 2013 and 52.9% in 2019. This legislative review presents an overview of the key legislative interventions in Albania to prevent gender-based and domestic violence and its impact in the society by highlighting main achievements and recommendations for further improvement, based on the analysis of results in the area. Methodology is based in a depth review of the key legal interventions on gender equality and domestic violence in the country. This review indicates that the response mechanisms have improved by following a multi-disciplinary point of view, however still profounder efforts are needed to provide proper services to domestic violence victims.

Highlights

Albania is dedicated to respect and promote gender equality and gender-based violence
This paper aims to provide a clear review of the main legal interventions in the country to prevent gender based and domestic violence and give a view on the impact that it has in the society
A narrative review of literature was led to observe this research question: how has the legislative framework in Albania evolved in terms of gender equality and gender-based violence? Initial research related to the acceptance/ratification of the UN international treaties and their incorporation into national legislation for the protection of human rights, protection against gender-based violence and human is conducted

Summary

Introduction

Albania is dedicated to respect and promote gender equality and gender-based violence. Despite all the efforts to promote gender equality and fight gender based and domestic violence, progress is needed in many areas such as women participation in decision making process, women’s representation in policy and development of policies and labor market (INSTAT, 2017). Gender based and domestic violence against women is not a new phenomenon for the country of Albania. It is significant to emphasize that domestic violence seems to have origins in the cultural aspects of society. The origin of gender based and domestic violence lie in the entrenched patriarchal traditions and customs, norms and roles, adherence to an honor-and-dishonor system, and customs of male-controlled hierarchal ordering with the family, and all these has affected the role of women in the family and society for generations (INSTAT, 2018)

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