Some constitutional and legal aspects of gender equality in Albanian law: A comparative perspective with the EU and UK

This paper deals with gender equality and women’s rights in Albanian law, in a comparative legal view with the European Union and UK. The analysis begins with the constitutional framework of Albania, which provides for the prohibition of any form of discrimination and the positive obligations of the state to promote real equality. It continues with the provisions of the criminal code on domestic violence, sexual harassment and the violation of equality by public officials, assessing their protective role and the challenges of practical implementation. Then, aspects of specific laws are analyzed, such as the law on gender equality, on protection from domestic violence and the law on protection from discrimination, emphasizing their importance for approximation with European Union standards. Through an assessment of statistics and institutional reports, weaknesses in implementation and the need for more effective mechanisms are highlighted. An important place in the manuscript is occupied by the comparative aspect of EU legislation on gender equality, including important directives and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU, as well as British legislation, with an emphasis on the Equality Act 2010 and relevant jurisprudence. The comparison highlights the similarities and differences in the approach to gender equality, noting that the main challenge in all systems remains the gap between legislation and social reality. The manuscript concludes with thoughts on the measures that need to be taken to strengthen the protection of women from discrimination, recommending the strengthening of implementation mechanisms, institutional coordination, social awareness, economic support for women and the implementation of affirmative measures. Thus, gender equality is projected not only as a formal principle, but as a real and necessary objective for the democratic and social development of the country.