Women Empowerment in Albania: Achievements and Shortcomings Throughout the Years

Nevila Rama

doi:10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n2p263

Abstract

The activity and the commitment of the Albanian state to ensure gender equality and empowerment of women as most discriminated subjects in the domains of politics, economy, social, cultural and civic society in Albania, as a result of the traditional society and the countries’ history, is a serotinous process and only during the late 90s occurs the first legal change. This paper analyses the process of ensuring gender quota, despite different interpretations and singularities in the countries where it is applied and its implementation in Albania. In the Albanian context it means only the participation of no less than 30% of women in the executive, legislative and local governance. Application of this quota in the last parliamentary elections resulted partly successful but preliminary lists of the upcoming local elections, once again show the imbalance that exists in the ratio of female representation in politics. This paper aims to recommend how to improve and modernize the political reality in Albania through participation of Albanian women in active politics. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n2p263

Highlights

The activity of Albanian government with regard to its engagement to guarantee gender equality and the empowerment of women, as one of the most discriminated social groups in the political, economic, socio-cultural and civic spheres in the country, begins with the ratification of the “The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women” through the law no. 7767 of 9.11.1993 which took effect on 11. 05. 1994
In the analysis of the first report on Albania, after January 2003, one of the recommendations given by the Committee CEDAW was: the concern of the Committee on the lack of a comprehensive review on the part of Albanian government of the laws that are in conformity with the Convetion CEDAW, creating a space for discrimination against women
Upon ratification of Optional Protocol, the Albanian government recognizes the competence of the Committee CEDAW to take into consideration claims that come directly from individuals or groups who are included under its jurisdiction, through a set of communication procedures that allow communication from individuals, or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals

Summary

Introduction

The activity of Albanian government with regard to its engagement to guarantee gender equality and the empowerment of women, as one of the most discriminated social groups in the political, economic, socio-cultural and civic spheres in the country, begins with the ratification of the “The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women” through the law no. 7767 of 9.11.1993 which took effect on 11. 05. 1994. The activity of Albanian government with regard to its engagement to guarantee gender equality and the empowerment of women, as one of the most discriminated social groups in the political, economic, socio-cultural and civic spheres in the country, begins with the ratification of the “The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women” through the law no.

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