Gender Equality - Legal Reality in Albania

The objective for gender equality policy is that women and men must have the same power to shape society and their own lives. While equality is an essential component of the human rights' protection, gender in equalities are still present in our society. One of the most serious violations of gender equality is violence against women. Violence against women is a form of discrimination, which is rooted in gender inequality. According to a study by INSTAT (2007), 27, 6 percent of women reported that violence had started after marriage. Abused women often were unwilling, to talk openly about domestic violence. in terms of urban versus rural differences, women in rural areas were significantly more likely to "ever" experience domestic violence of all types, compared to women in urban areas. There were also significant differences based on level of education. Women with a primary education were significantly more likely to "ever" experience domestic violence of all types, compared to women with a basic education or less, secondary education, and a university/post-university education. While women with a university/post-university education were least likely to "ever" experience domestic violence of all types, they were not immune to domestic violence in their marriage/intimate relationships simply because they were highly educated. Since 1993, Albania is part of Convention "On the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women" (1981) (CEDAW), in order to prevent gender inequalities, as well as to ensure wisely the protection of women from discrimination in higher levels. Other Albanian legal acts, as The Constitution of the Republic of Albania, the law no. 10 221/2010 "On Protection from Discrimination", the law no. 9970/2008 "On gender equality in the society" etc. intend to protect women, to prevent gender discrimination and to ensure gender equality. Albanian National Strategy on Gender Equality and Violence in Family (2011-2015) had also a great importance on setting some levels on gender equality. But unfortunately, gender discrimination and violence against women is still a very widespread phenomenon in Albania. Statistical data reflect a very cruel reality. Women's rights are an integral and indivisible part of fundamental human rights and a real, applicable, legal protection is needed.