Strasbourg, 1 April 2020 Ref.: JJ9020C Tr./005-231 NOTE VERBALE the Secretariat General of the Council of Europe (Treaty Office
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TREATY OFFICE Strasbourg, 1 April 2020 Ref.: JJ9020C Tr./005-231 NOTE VERBALE The Secretariat General of the Council of Europe (Treaty Office) presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has the honour to enclose a copy of a Note verbale from the Permanent Representation of Albania to the Council of Europe, dated 31 March 2020, transmitted to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 31 March 2020, concerning Article 15 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 5). This information is transmitted in pursuance of Resolution (56) 16 of the Committee of Ministers. The Secretariat General of the Council of Europe (Treaty Office) avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry the assurances of its highest consideration. Encl. Note to all member States. Copy Albania. Tel ►+33 (0)3 90 21 48 13 Mail ► [email protected] Tel ►+33 (0)3 88 41 36 68 Site ► http://conventions.coe.int COPY (*) Annex to the Note verbale JJ9020C dated 1 April 2020 ETS No. 5 – Article 15 PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE Strasbourg No 057/20 NOTE VERBALE The Permanent Representation of Albania presents its compliment to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and pursuant to Article 15 of the Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms informs the following: The World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 characterized COVID-19 as pandemic. Since the first case of COVID-19 was detected on the territory of Albania on 9 March, the Government has been taking measures to protect public health. On 11 March 2020, the Minister of Health and Social Protection, declared the epidemic state by Order no.156/2. Furthermore, the Minister of Health and Social Protection in order to protect the health of the population by the infection caused by COVID-19 approved some other measures. However, the increase in number of infected persons necessitated adoption of additional measures. On 15.03.2020 the Council of Minister approved normative Act No.3 “On taking special administrative measures during the period of infection caused by COVID-19”. Furthermore, on 24 March 2020 the Council of Ministers of Republic of Albania decided state of natural disaster in order to ensure the containment of the spread of COVID-19 virus on the entire territory of Albania. The aim of the decision is to ensure epidemiological safety, restrict the spread of COVID-19 and ensure public health at national level. The Council of Ministers Decision restricted certain fundamental human rights and freedom enshrined in Articles 37, 38, 41, paragraph 4, 49 & 51 of the Constitution of Albania. The state of natural disaster starts on 24 March 2020. The measures adopted by the Government, among others include, gradual restriction of air, land and sea traffic, suspension of education process, establishment of quarantine procedures and self-isolation, restriction of assembly, manifestation and gathering, restriction on the right of property, special regulation on public service delivery and administrative proceedings. The Permanent Representation of Albania to the Council of Europe attaches to this Note the unofficial translation of the following documents: Council of Ministers Decision no.243, dated 24.3.2020 “On the declaration of the state of natural disaster”- Annex 1; Normative Act no. 3, dated 15.03.2020 “On taking special administrative measures during the period of infection caused by COVID-19 as amended ”and amendments dated on 24.03.2020 – Annex 2; and Order No. 156/2, dated 11.03.2020 “On the declaration of the state of Epidemic” and other Orders of the Minister of Health and Social Protection listed on Annex 3. 2 The application of measures taken by the Government gives reasons for the necessity to derogate from certain obligations of Republic of Albania under Articles 8 and 11 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom, Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom and Article 2 of Protocol No.4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom. Therefore, the Permanent Representation kindly asks that this Note Verbale be considered as notification for the purposes of Article 15 paragraph 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Permanent Representation of Albania to the Council of Europe will inform the Secretary General of the Council of Europe about future developments with regard to the emergency situation and will notify her when the state of natural disaster is lifted. The Permanent Representation of Albania to the Council of Europe avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe the assurances of its highest consideration. Strasbourg, 31 March 2020 (seal) Secretary General of the Council of Europe STRASBOURG ----- (*) Declaration registered at the Secretariat General on 31 March 2020 – Or. Engl. 3 ANNEX 1 DECISION No.243, dated 24.3.2020 ON THE DECLARATION OF THE STATE OF NATURAL DISASTER Pursuant to Articles 100, 170, 174, point 1, and 175, point 2, of the Constitution, and the letter "ç" of Article 18, point 1 of Article 19, and point 1 of Article 39, Law No.45/2019, "On Civil Protection", on the proposal of the Minister of Health and Social Protection and the Minister of State for Reconstruction, the Council of Ministers DECIDED 1. Declaration of the state of natural disaster throughout the Republic of Albania due to the epidemic caused by COVID-19. 2. Limitation of the rights guaranteed by Articles 37, 38, 41, points 4, 49 and 51 of the Constitution to the extent considered necessary to achieve the protection of the health of citizens. 3. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Civil Emergencies (KNEC), established by Decision No.750, dated 27.11.2019, of the Council of Ministers, “On the declaration of the state of natural disaster in Durres, Lezha and Tirana”, as amended, is the highest body for coordinating the actions of state institutions and private entities, as well as the financial and material resources to cope with the natural disaster due to the epidemic caused by COVID-19, up to 30 (thirty) days from entry in force of this decision. The Minister of State for Reconstruction is also appointed as a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee. 4. Representatives of various public authorities, business, experts/professionals in the field of medicine and public health and representatives of civil society or NGO leaders shall attend the meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, at the request of the Chair, with subject of activity to public health and humanitarian aid. 5. The Institute of Public Health is assigned the role of the KNEC Technical Secretariat, for natural disaster issues declared due to the epidemic caused by COVID-19. 6. Extraordinary measures shall be taken to cope and mitigate the consequences of natural disaster, as follows: 6.1. Public institutions: a) to implement plans of organizational and administrative measures to cope with the state of natural disaster; b) to use the financial resources provided for in the annual budget and to reassess their annual budget in accordance with unforeseen additional expenditure incurred; c) to make available human and logistical resources; ç) to assign the state facilities under their administration responsibility, which can be made available for housing the evacuated population; d) to restrict access to public places which are widely frequented; dh) to stop gatherings, manifestations and strikes; e) to limit the activities to the necessary minimum for all public bodies; ë) to quarantine all persons confirmed or suspected of being affected by COVID-19; f) to establish and secure staffed quarantine zones, which shall be provided with all preventive measures to avoid infection; g) to guarantee conditions and qualified staff for specialized treatment in quarantine centers; 4 gj) to equip all staff of hospital and health centers with the necessary material basis for avoiding infection. 6.2. Operational structures of the civil protection system: a) to establish and implement special measures to ensure and increase the safety of citizens in disaster-affected areas; b) to activate and organize the quarantine procedure for the endangered population; c) to organize unilateral controls of dwellings and private facilities for the identification and treatment of persons affected by the virus; ç) to restrict free movement within or outside the State in accordance with the needs dictated by the natural disaster; d) to limit the organization of strikes; dh) to limit the development of economic activities for private entities in accordance with the needs dictated by the natural disaster; e) to provide first aid to those peoples affected by the virus and to transport them to hospital centers or quarantine infrastructure; ë) to organize the required procedures for conducting funeral services. 6.3. Private entities: a) to comply with procedures and measures of quarantine; b) to provide information on data that assist civil protection institutions and structures to cope with the disaster; c) to involve in specific tasks, in accordance with the preparation, skills and need to help overcome the state of natural disaster; ç) to close or temporarily limit their activity; d) to not collect road toll charges for vehicles engaged in coping with the natural disaster. 6.4. Citizens: a) to comply with the orders, measures and instructions of the civil protection authorities, and follow the required procedures, in particular for quarantine and suspension of activities; b) to provide information on data that assist public institutions and civil protection structures to cope with the disaster; c) to involve in specific tasks, in accordance with the preparation, skills and need to help overcome the state of natural disaster.