The Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination started an awareness raising campaign with an Open Day against discrimination in Shkodër this week. Similar events featuring art, culture and sports will take place over the next four weeks in Fier, Gjirokastër, Korçë and Kukës, complemtented by television spots on national public and private TV stations.

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness among the general public on the damages discrimination and exclusion of vulnerable groups inflicts on societies while at the same time informing the public about the services offered by the Commissioner. 

A nationwide survey conducted in spring 2017, in the frame of the European Union/Council of Europe joint project “Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Albanian System of Human Rights protection and Anti-discrimination”, indicated a low  level of awareness among the general public and specific target groups on the concept of discrimination, about the legislative and policy framework and the protection mechanisms.

It is in this context that the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination initiated the national awareness raising campaign combining TV spots with a series of of Open Days in five cities.

The first event took place on 4 April, at the "Migjeni" Theater in Shkodër,  in close partnership with Shkodër Municipality and Regional Directorate of Education, gathering over 400 youngsters, parents and representatives of  local authorities.

Commissioner Irma Baraku, Mayor of Shkoder Voltana Ademi, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana Claus Neukirch and EU Delegation's Head of Operations Stephen Stork emphasized in their opening speeches the importance of tolerance and non-discrimination for the development of a democratic and inclusive society and drew attention to the support the Commissioner and her team can provide to individuals which experience discrimination by public authorities.