Back Strategic roundtable to advance protection of LGBTI rights convenes in Tirana

Strategic roundtable to advance protection of LGBTI rights convenes in Tirana

Tirana hosted a National Strategic Roundtable on the Protection and Advancement of LGBTI Rights, bringing together high-level government representatives, civil society, experts, and international partners. The event, part of the activities of IDAHOT 2026, was organised by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in co-operation with leading civil society organisations, supported by the joint EU and Council of Europe action against discrimination in Albania.

Opening remarks were delivered by Albana Koçiu - Deputy Prime Minister of Albania, Ina Majko - Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Iris Luarasi - Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Media, Silvio Gonzato - EU Ambassador to Albania, and Giulia Re - Head of the Council of Europe Office in Albania. The speakers highlighted Albania’s enduring political commitment to advancing LGBTI rights, stressing the importance of implementing human rights standards to create meaningful change for LGBTI persons.

The roundtable showcased three major studies offering a comprehensive evidence-based overview of the situation of LGBTI persons in Albania:

Participants discussed progress and remaining challenges in ensuring equal rights, social inclusion, and access to opportunities for LGBTI persons across the country.

The study on access to services for LGBTI community revealed a striking gap between the perception of service providers and the lived experiences of LGBTI persons. Based on data from 2,241 providers across health, education, social services, employment, and justice sectors, providers generally rated their preparedness to support LGBTI persons at 3.7 out of 5, and their knowledge of equality law at 3.52 out of 5.

In contrast, the voices of LGBTI persons told a different story:

  • 82.7% had never disclosed their identity to a doctor.
  • Safety in health settings was rated extremely low at 1.95 out of 5.
  •  86.7% had seriously considered leaving Albania due to discrimination and social exclusion.

These findings underscore an urgent need to strengthen institutional responses and ensure that policies translate into tangible, safe, and inclusive services for LGBTI persons.

This initiative demonstrates Albania’s ongoing commitment, alongside all actors, to promoting equality and combating discrimination against LGBTI persons, guided by human rights principles, reliable evidence and European standards.

The event is organised with the support of the action on ‘Advancing the protection from discrimination in Albania’, part of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme ‘Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye’, and the project on " Promoting human rights and equality for LGBTI persons - IV", implemented by the Council of Europe Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Unit.

 

 

National Strategic Roundtable on the Protection and Advancement of LGBTI Rights in Albania

Tirana / Albania 20 May 2026
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page

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)