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Hate Speech in Albania: Despite increased awareness, it is perceived to be on the rise

The latest edition of the study “Beyond Definitions: A Call for Action Against Hate Speech in Albania” reveals significant patterns of hate speech in the country, showing both progress in awareness and gaps in action.

According to the findings, 97% of respondents are now familiar with the concept of hate speech, a slight increase from 94% in 2021. This indicates growing awareness across different communities. However, the study also highlights a crucial misconception: many people still equate hate speech with simply “offensive words” and fail to grasp its broader social and legal implications.

The study found that six out of ten people believe hate speech is widespread in Albania, with seven out of ten saying it has grown more prevalent in public spaces over the past four years, particularly on social media, in news outlets, and during TV talk shows.

Conducted by the No Hate Alliance and supported by the EU and Council of Europe’s joint initiative “Advancing the Protection from Discrimination in Albania”, the study is based on interviews with 1,000 respondents nationwide. Despite increased awareness, hate speech remains common and is perceived to be on the rise.

Certain groups continue to bear the burden of this phenomenon. LGBTI persons report the highest rates of exposure to hate speech, with 62% citing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Meanwhile, Roma and Egyptian minorities face hate speech primarily related to ethnicity or race, with 37% reporting such incidents. Though 57% of Albanians are now aware of laws against hate speech (a notable increase from 41% in 2021), yet not enough persons report it to the authorities. Instead, victims often turn to family and friends for support.

The study concludes that while Albania has made progress in raising awareness about hate speech, better law enforcement, better protection for vulnerable groups and more effective legal actions are essential moving forward. This study was prepared in the framework of the action on “Advancing the protection from discrimination in Albania” part of the EU and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

 
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Tirana / Albania 7 January 2025
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What is the Horizontal Facility?

The joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative and one of the results of the Statement of Intent signed on 1 April 2014 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, in which both Organisations agreed to further strengthen their co-operation in key areas of joint interest.

The programme is ongoing since 2016 and the third phase begun in January 2023 for a period of 48 months. The third phase of the programme (worth €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE) keeps building on the results of the previous phases and it combines Beneficiary-specific and regional actions.

It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

Themes covered by the Horizontal Facility include:

  • strengthening justice
  • fighting corruption, economic crime and money laundering
  • promoting anti-discrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (including LGBTI, minorities and Roma) and
  • promoting and protecting freedom of expression and media

The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism that provides legislative expertise and policy advice within the Council of Europe system remains also an important part of the programme available to all Beneficiaries.

The Horizontal Facility relies on the Council of Europe’s unique working methods, whereby tailor-made technical co-operation activities are based on conclusions and recommendations of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies highlight areas where improvements are needed in legislation and policies of the Beneficiaries to comply with the Organisation’s treaties and other standards.

 

Which Horizontal Facility actions are being implemented in Albania?

In Albania, the following actions are currently being implemented:

  • Strengthening the quality and efficiency of justice in Albania (SEJ IV)
  • Improving the protection of the right to property and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania (D-REX III)
  • Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania
  • Action against economic crime in Albania
  • Advancing the protection from discrimination in Albania 
  • Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Albania (PRO-FREX-A)