The Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), which is responsible for monitoring implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), welcomes “comprehensive legislative changes” since an initial report had been published on Albania in 2017.
The new thematic report praises the continuous legislative reforms, including to the Law on Measures against Violence in Family Relations and the Criminal Code, as well as the adoption of numerous bylaws, general instructions, and manuals. GREVIO particularly welcomes the rollout and replication in all Albanian municipalities of a co-ordinated referral mechanism, referred to in the report as a “pioneering project” that brings institutionalised and co-ordinated protection closer to victims of such violence.
Furthermore, the report commends efforts to streamline data collection through the introduction of a new database which allows authorities to better integrate data from other stakeholders. More legal reforms are underway, including a complete overhaul of the Criminal Code, which serves to confirm the authorities’ dedication to constructing a robust and stable legal framework to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. These measures attest to the renewed ownership taken by the Albanian authorities of the prevention and protection of women from gender-based violence, which GREVIO welcomes.
Despite such progress to implement the treaty, which had entered into force in Albania 10 years ago, GREVIO also identifies areas which require “urgent action” by the authorities to fully comply with convention provisions.
For example, traditional beliefs and strict gender roles and stereotypes remain a “serious challenge” in Albania, especially when it comes to sexual violence and rape, which results in extremely low reporting rates of these crimes. The report stresses that only one rape crisis centre exists for the entire country, and it is insufficiently used. GREVIO indicates an “urgent need” for the authorities to invest in further and more sustainable awareness-raising measures and to roll-out relevant support services.
Moreover, mandatory conciliation in respect of rape and forced marriage cases is still required in Albania, an issue which needs to be “urgently addressed”. Similarly, the high number of reported cases of violence against women which are dismissed somewhere along the path of the judicial system and never reach a conviction similarly remains an important challenge.
The report also criticises the fact that only victims who report a crime may obtain specialised support services. Furthermore, the implementation and enforcement of emergency barring and protection orders visibly fall short of the authorities’ commitment. GREVIO observed “significant gaps between the political will to reform, and the implementation of those provisions,” which continued to “undermine the trust of victims”.
GREVIO calls on the authorities to effectuate “significant reform” of the healthcare system, to ensure the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to women and girls, including those with mental health problems. Standardised care paths should be implemented not only to ensure the identification of victims, but that medical reports detailing the violence suffered be drawn up. Important shortcomings with the provision of specialised care for victims of sexual violence were also identified.
