Inclusion et anti-discrimination

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 tree major studies offering a comprehensive evidence-based overview of the situation of LGBTI persons in Albania:

• Monitoring Reports on the Implementation of the National Action Plan for LGBTI Persons (2021–2027) — National and Local Level
• Workers’ Rights and the Socio-Economic Situation of LGBTI Persons in Albania
• Access to Services for the LGBTI Community in Albania, developed in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and supported by EU/CoE joint action on “Advancing the Protection from Discrimination 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 perspectives 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.