Albania NATIONAL REPORT on the IMPLEMENTATION of THE
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Albania NATIONAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING +20 PLATFORM FOR ACTION 1 Table of Contents Part I: General analysis of the achievements and challenges from 1995 - National Policies Part II: Progress in the key areas of concern/interest of the Platform for Action, since 2009 A. Women and poverty B. Education and training of women C. Women and health D. Violence against women E. Women and armed conflicts F. Women and economy G. Women in power and decision-making H. Women in power and decision-making I. Institutional mechanism for women development J. Women human rights K. Women and the media L. Women and the environment M. Girl children Part III: Data and statistics Part IV: Current priorities Annex 1: List of abbreviations Annex 2: List of main national changes in the area of gender equality in years (1995 – 2014) Annex 3: Statistical data regarding participation of girls and women in the armed forces Annex 4: Set of minimum required indicators Annex 5: Statistical table with data on domestic violence in the course of 2009-2013 Annex 6: Statistics about employment/representation of women/girls Annex 7: Labour market general data Annex 8: Situation of women/girl inmates/convicts in penitentiary institutions and in the probation service Annex 9: List of policies, strategies, action plans, and important publications in the context of this reporting 2 NATIONAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING +20 PLATFORM FOR ACTION The following report1 contains information on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 2009-2013, reviewing both the progress marked and the challenges faced in this regard. It was prepared as a response to the call from the UN Economic and Social Council in Resolution E/RES/2013/18, in the context of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference for Women, and it is based on the questionnaire “Implementation of the Platform for Action (1995) and the results of the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly (2000)”. This report was drafted under the auspices and direct attention of the Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Mr. Erion Veliaj. An inclusive consulting process was organised: a working group with 192 members was established and coordinated by the General Director of Social Policies; meetings were held with representatives of the main directorates of the MSWY3, and a meeting with the most active NGOs4 in the key areas included in the Beijing Platform, as well as with NGOs that represent the interests of women, and Roma and Egyptian communities in Albania. The draft report was distributed for comments and suggestions and the final version reflects clearly the contribution of all stakeholders involved in the process. UN Women supported the MSWY in drafting the report by providing a consultant and several supporting information and materials from various UN agencies or other international organisations operating in Albania. During the reporting period, the Albanian Government has continued to give priority to the empowerment of women/girls, taking into consideration the fact that only the prioritising and concrete achievements may lead to a constant economic and social development. The steps taken to achieve this important objective include improvement of the existing legal framework and drafting of several policies, programmes, and administrative measures that aim at empowering women and promoting gender equality. Part I –General analysis of the achievements and challenges from 1995 A) The efforts of the Albanian state, through the years, in fighting gender discrimination and the undertaking of continuous engagements to promote and achieve in practice the rights of women and girls, with the aim of making gender equality a reality, have been regularly reflected in the previous progress reports on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Equality is one of the guiding principles of the European Union. The Albanian legislation and gender policy reflect the process related to its EU membership and integration. Through the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) of 2006, Albania committed itself to 1Please refer to the “List of abbreviations” in Annex 1 for an easier reading of the report. 2The working group for the drafting of the Report on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was established in February 2014 (document No.208/1 Prot, dated 11.02.2014). It was composed of 19 (nineteen) members. The group was chaired by the General Directorate of Social Policies and consisted of experts on gender equality issues and violence against women, in the DSP/MSWY, and representatives of the: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of European Integration, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Management, Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Enterprise, Ministry of Education and Sport, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism, the Institute of Statistics, and the Audio-visual Media Authority. 3During February – April several meetings have been held with representatives of the key Directorates in the MSWY, such as: Directorate of Social Policies, General Directorate of Employment, etc. 4The consulting meeting was held on 07.04.2014 with 30 women and girls, representatives of 26 NGOs active in various areas of the Beijing Platform. The meeting was held under the auspices of the Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Mr. Veliaj, with the support of UN Women, and it was facilitated by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Youth. The meeting was attended also by representatives of Albania to Beijing 1995, Beijing +5 and Beijing +10, and by three members of National Council on Gender Equality. 3 harmonise its legislation with the acquis communautaire, the legal legacy of the European Union5. Equality is one of the objectives and tasks, as well as an integral part of the EC Treaty and EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The obligations of Albania regarding gender mainstreaming derive also from the five priority areas reflected in the Strategy for Equality between Men and Women 2010 - 2015”6 of the European Commission. Ratification of the Convention on Human Rights, and especially Conventions that address specifically the rights of women and girls, the country’s aspirations to develop democracy through an equal participation of men and women, and the efforts to join the European Union, are some of the obligations undertaken by the Albanian Government, and the achievements deriving by their implementation are translated into: 1. Consistent harmonisation of the domestic legislation with the international standards by drafting Law No. 9970, dated 24.07.2008 on “Gender equality in society7”, Law No. 9690 dated 18.12.2006 on “Measures against domestic violence8” (as amended), Law No.10221 dated 04.02.2010 on “Protection from Discrimination9”, and several other supportive laws or secondary legislation. 2. Drafting and implementation of two national strategies and their action plans, respectively the first National Strategy on Gender Equality and Eradication of Domestic Violence (NSGE-DV) 2007-201010, and the National Strategy on Gender Equality and Reduction of Gender-based Violence and Domestic Violence (NSGE-GV/DV), 2011-2015 (reviewed) and the respective Action Plan11, as well as several programmes and national plans on gender issues and reduction of gender-based and domestic violence12. 3. Establishment and empowering of state structures, which support gender equality, and fight against violence against women and domestic violence. Some of the key ones are13: a) Directorate of Equal Opportunities, Policies and Family (DEOPF)14; b) National Council on Gender Equality15, c) Institution of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination16, etc. The Minister, who covers gender equality and domestic violence issues, is responsible for the implementation of laws and state programmes on gender issues and domestic violence17. 4. Raise the awareness of public opinion, with the aim of changing gender stereotypes, through various awareness raising campaigns; change the attitude 5The National Report on the Position of Women and Gender Equality in Albania, MLSAEO and UN Women 2011, pg.31 http://www.un.org.al/editor-files/file/news/National%20Report-Status%20of%20Women%20and%20Gender%20Equality%20ENG.pdf 6 “Strategy on equality between women and men 2010 – 2015” –European Commission, September 2010. http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=6568&langId=en 7 Published in the Official Journal No. 125 dated 01.08.2008. http://www.osce.org/albania/36682 8Published in the Official Journal No. 150 dated 18.01.2007, which entered into force on 01.06.2007 and has been amended twice: by Law No. 9914, dated 12.05.2008 and Law No. 10 329, dated 30.9.2010 http://www.osce.org/albania/30436 9Published in the Official Journal No. 15/2010. http://www.ilo.org/aids/legislation/WCMS_178702/lang--en/index.htm 10Approved by DCM No. 913, dated, 19.12.2007. http://www.osce.org/albania/32827 11Approved by DCM No. 573, dated 16.6.2011. http://www.dsdc.gov.al/previewdoc.php?file_id=1617 12The most recent draft for 2013 was the “National Action Plan for the Involvement of Boys and Men in the Fight against Gender-based and Domestic Violence”, upon request of the MSWY and support of UNDP, UN Women and UNFPA. This plan is pending for approval. 13For further details on these and other structures, please refer to paragraph D of session I of this report and paragraph H of session II of this report. 14Established by Order of the Prime Minister in 2006and in December 2013 it was renamed: Directorate of Social Inclusion and Gender Equality. 15Established by Order of the Prime Minister No.3 dated 08.01.2009 on the “Functioning of the National Council on Gender Equality”, pursuant to Law No. 9970/2008 16Established pursuant to Law No.