The European Commission and UN Women boost their partnership to address the rise in violence against women amid the pandemic in the Western Balkans

Date: Friday, February 26, 2021

On the eve of International Women’s Day, the European Commission and UN Women take a strong step forward in their commitment to end the shadow pandemic of violence against women.

Women activists from the Western Balkans and Turkey determined to change the way they prevent violence against migrant women

Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Woman walking at the refugee reception centre Tabanovce, Macedonian-Serbian border, 26 April 2016. The fence of the centre has been broken. Photo: Mirjana Nedeva On the occasion of International Migrants Day, 18 December, more than 80 women activists and representatives of line ministries, civil society and academia from the Western Balkans and Turkey came together to discuss ways to prevent and respond to violence against women migrants at the webinar “Intersectional solutions to...

What happened after COVID-19: Albania

Date: Monday, November 16, 2020

Jana Kote* and her three children lived with an abusive husband and father for 12 years until they received support from a local organization, Human Rights in Democracy Centre, based in Tirana, the capital of Albania.

What happened after COVID-19: Albania

Date: Monday, November 16, 2020

A local women’s organization supported by UN Women and the EU provided survivors of domestic violence with essential needs and psychological and legal support during the pandemic in Albania.

Survey shows COVID-19 impacts on gender inequality in Albania

Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020

The UN Women Rapid Gender Assessment survey revealed that the burden of household and care responsibilities were not distributed evenly, as only 46 per cent of women versus 67 per cent of men in Albania reported receiving help from their partner. Daniela Fejzaj, a 40-year-old information technology professional and mother of two, recalls the endless chores during the COVID-19 lockdown.

In the words of Anisa Ruseti: “We use gender-disaggregated data to design services that target women”

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2020

On World Statistics Day, Anisa Ruseti, the Deputy Mayor at the Municipality of Tirana, Albania talks about the importance of using gender data.

Press Release: UN Women and Sweden launch new initiative in the Western Balkans focusing on financing and budgeting for gender equality

Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2020

UN Women and Sweden will aim to reform policies and financing actions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia to accelerate the implementation of national and international gender equality commitments.

In the words of Esmeralda Hoxha: “Without trust in institutions, survivors get entrapped in a vicious cycle of violence”

Date: Friday, September 4, 2020

Esmeralda Hoxha is project coordinator at the Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC) in Albania, currently implementing a project under the regional programme on ending violence against women “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds,” funded by the European Union, which aims to monitor the implementation of the National Gender Equality Strategy (2016-2020) in Albania, focusing on ending violence against women and girls. “When I was 6 years old, I heard a story that left a...

Improved data on violence against women catalyses advocacy and legal change in Albania

Date: Thursday, August 27, 2020

For Albania’s latest survey on violence against women and girls (VAWG), the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) took a markedly different approach: engaging with local governments, civil society organizations (CSOs) and relevant service-providers at every stage of the process – from survey design, through data collection and dissemination.

Expert’s take: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vital role of women’s organizations in our societies

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2020

When it comes to advancing gender equality and improving the lives of women and girls, we often hope to create positive changes in people’s behaviour. This might include stopping harmful practices, such as domestic violence, or starting positive practices, like encouraging girls to attend and excel in school.

Gender assessments in Europe and Central Asia reveal pandemic’s devastating impact on women

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2020

A survey to assess the gendered impacts of COVID-19 on women’s and men’s lives and livelihoods in ten countries/territories across Europe and Central Asia has revealed dire findings.

Press release: COVID-19 is taking a higher toll on women – shows UN Women Albania rapid assessment

Date: Friday, July 10, 2020

The survey measured the socio-economic impact of the pandemic and how it affected the livelihoods of women and men. It shows that COVID-19 has been disproportionately affecting women compared to men, and risks to deepen gender inequalities.

Revised law empowers women survivors of violence in Albania

Date: Monday, June 8, 2020

Flora Leka* had an arranged marriage at the age of 17. She dropped out of school and lived with her violent husband and father of her four children for more than 15 years.

Women confront pandemic-related violence against women across Europe and Central Asia

Date: Monday, June 1, 2020

Both globally and across Europe and Central Asia, home confinement and stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated violence against women and girls. In most countries, women’s organizations, hotlines and front-liners have noted sharp increases in calls and reports from locked-down survivors afraid that they have nowhere to turn.

Unpacking the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls in Albania

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2020

UN Women has been liaising with different women’s rights groups and civil society organizations to get a better understanding of the situation and look at ways to respond to specific vulnerabilities.

Jonada Shukarasi: An Albanian teen declares war on violence against women using technology

Date: Friday, April 24, 2020

Jonada Shukarasi is one of three 16-year-old girls who developed an app aimed at tackling the severe problem of domestic violence across Albania. Called GjejZâ (Find your Voice), the app provides comprehensive information to women suffering from abusive behavior.

Albania adopts new protocol to ensure undisrupted shelter services

Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the government of Albania adopted a dedicated protocol on 10 April to ensure undisrupted functioning of shelters during the COVID-19 emergency in Albania. According to the new protocol, domestic violence shelters are declared as essential services and must remain open and accept new survivors of gender-based violence.

“Nurses are the real heroes,” says Albanian doctor in the front line of COVID-19 response

Date: Monday, April 6, 2020

Women are playing a key role—often disproportionate to men—in responding to the disease, as frontline healthcare workers, as well as care givers at home. Experience of other disease outbreaks shows that they have the highest risk to be infected. Almost 12 per cent of Albania’s reported cases of coronavirus have been health workers, but no fatalities have been reported yet.

My take, your take: how is Albanian legislation fighting gender inequalities?

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2020

In this new intergenerational series for the Generation Equality campaign, young people take the lead to shape the conversations. Ilvana Dedja, a 22-year-old human rights activist, is talking with Vasilika Hysi, Deputy Speaker of Parliament in Albania.

International Women's Day around Europe and Central Asia

Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

On and around International Women’s Day, 8 March, a rich diversity of initiatives celebrate women and girls, their limitless imagination, their joyous dreams and their boundless strength across Europe and Central Asia. UN Women, along with partners, organized events across the region, under the theme of “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”, putting innovation by women and girls, for women and girls, at the heart of efforts to achieve gender equality.