Opening Address by the Commissioner .........................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................................4 General Remarks..............................................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER I .......................................................................................................................................................8 AN OVERVIEW ON THE DISCRIMINATION SITUTATION IN ALBANIA ..........................................................8 I.1. Development of a Legal Framework to Ensure Equality and Non-Discrimination in Albania ..................8 I.2. The Discrimination Situation in Albania ....................................................................................................13 I.2.1. Discrimination on grounds of race ...................................................................................................13 I.2.2. Discrimination on grounds of disability ...........................................................................................20 I.2.3. Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity .........................................24 I.2.4. Discrimination on Grounds of Gender .............................................................................................26 I.2.5. Multiple Discrimination .....................................................................................................................29 CHAPTER II ......................................................................................................................................................30 CPD ACTIVITIES AIMING TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOUR AND PROMOTE EQUALITY .....................................................................................................................................30 II.1. Provision of Assistance to Victims of Discrimination and Handling of Discrimination Claims .............30 II.1.1. Cases Handled by the CPD ...............................................................................................................30 II.1.1.2. Complainants ................................................................................................................................33 II.1.1.3. Distribution of Complaints by Region ........................................................................................34 II.1.1.4. Grounds of Discrimination Claimed ..........................................................................................34 II.1.1.5. Cases Handled, by Ground of Discrimination ...........................................................................36 II.1.1.6. Forms of Discrimination ............................................................................................................50 II.1.1.7. Areas of Discrimination Claims .................................................................................................54 II.1.1.8. Ex officio Cases ........................................................................................................................60 II.1.1.9. Outcomes of Decisions in the Cases Examined by the CPD ...................................................60 II.1.2. Handling of Claims of Discrimination by the Courts .....................................................................61 II.1.2.1 Provision of Written Expert Opinions for the Courts ................................................................62 II.1.2.2. THE CPD as a Defending Party ...............................................................................................67 II.1.2.3 The CPD as a Third Party .........................................................................................................69 II.1.2.4 Court Proceedings for the Enforcement of Penalty Fines Imposed .......................................70 II.2. Legislative and Other Recommendations on Discrimination-Related Issues ..............................72 II.2.1. Legislative Recommendations .....................................................................................................72 II.2.2. Other Discrimination-Related Recommendations .....................................................................75 II.3. Awareness Raising ....................................................................................................................................78 II.3.1. Development, Publication and Dissemination of Awareness-raising and Other Training Materials 79 II.3.2. Training Sessions and Conferences Organised by the CPD .....................................................81 II.3.3. Open Days ...................................................................................................................................83 II.3.4. Greater Visibility in the Media .....................................................................................................84 II.3.5. Open Lectures .............................................................................................................................84 II.4. Discrimination-Related Research Studies and Monitoring Activities .....................................................85 II.4.1. Research Studies on Discrimination .........................................................................................85 II.4.2. Discrimination-Related Monitoring Activities Carried out by the CPD ....................................85 II.4.3 Reporting by the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination before Regional and Interna- tional Organisations ..............................................................................................................................86 II.4.4. Public Hearings at the Parliament..............................................................................................90 II.5. Collaborations ............................................................................................................................................90 II.5.1. Membership to EQUINET – European Network of Equality Bodies ...........................................90 II.5.2. Collaboration with International Bodies through Joint Projects ...............................................91 II.5.3. Collaboration with the Civil Society ............................................................................................91 II.5.4. Collaboration with State Institutions ..........................................................................................91 CHAPTER III.....................................................................................................................................................92 ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS ................................................................................................................92 III.1. Human Resources Management ....................................................................................................92 III.2. Management of Financial Resources ...........................................................................................94 ANNEX 1 ...........................................................................................................................................................96 The Legal Framework Ensuring Equality and Non-Discrimination in Albania ...................................96 ANNEX 2 ..........................................................................................................................................................101 Legislative Recommendations Proposed by the CPD ..........................................................................101 ANNEX 3 ..........................................................................................................................................................109 Participation of CPD Staff in Activities and Events Organised by Other Institutions ........................109 3 INTRODUCTION As an independent institution whose obligations are directly derived from the Constitution Opening Address by the Commissioner and the Law, the CPD holds that effective protection of each and every individual’s right to equality and their protection from discrimination are priorities of paramount importance Honourable Mr Speaker of the Assembly of Albania, in its work and key factors in the progress of the Albanian state towards integration in the Honourable Members of Parliament, European Union. Of great importance to the work of the institution has been the close collaboration with Today we are submitting to the People’s Assembly of Albania our 2014 Annual Report, fully various non-profit organisations involved in the protection of human rights, particularly the conscious of the great responsibility that the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimi- rights of vulnerable groups, as well as the collaboration with a number of various central nation has as the key institution working to ensure effective protection from discrimination and local government bodies, the media and the general public. and from behaviours promoting it. During 2014, as in the previous years, the work and activity of the CPD were based on the The goal of the activities carried out by the Commissioner’s Office was to contribute to the legislation in force, the 2012-2015 Strategic Plan, the 2014 Action Plan, and