In a social landscape where equality still remains a challenge, the latest annual report to the Parliament by the institution of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (CPD) reveals a complex picture. While civic awareness is growing, structural barriers and social prejudices continue to fuel inequality.
1. Map of complaints: Where is discrimination most prevalent?
The geographical distribution of complaints shows a high concentration in large urban centers, which is explained by population density, but also by easier access to institutions.
· Tirana (top): As the administrative and economic capital, Tirana has the highest number of complaints. This is mainly related to the concentration of public administration and the private sector.
· Fier and Elbasan: These two municipalities follow Tirana, where complaints often come from minority communities (Roma and Egyptian) and are related to access to services.
· Durrës and Vlora : Coastal cities exhibit problems mainly in the areas of employment and property/public services.
· Shkodra and Korça: Even though they have regional CPD offices, the number of complaints remains constant, with a focus on persons with disabilities and social protection.
Small municipalities and rural areas report less, but this does not indicate a lack of discrimination, but rather a lack of information and fear of stigmatization in small communities.
2. The main reasons why Albanians are discriminated against?
In the long list of reasons provided by the law, some remain "dominant" in our daily lives:
· Disability: This remains the main cause of complaints. The lack of "reasonable accommodation" (ramps, assistive devices, infrastructure) prevents these citizens from living equally.
· Race and ethnicity: Roma and Egyptian communities remain the most affected, particularly in access to social housing and civil registration.
· Political persuasion: A phenomenon that is "reawakened" especially during election periods or changes of administrations, where citizens claim unfair dismissals.
· Gender and sexual orientation: While gender-based complaints are related to pay equity and workplace harassment, hate speech against the LGBTI+ community remains a serious concern in virtual spaces.
3. Areas where discrimination is most evident
Where does discrimination actually occur? The data shows three main "battlefields":
A. Employment (public and private sector)
This is the area with the largest number of decisions. Issues include:
· Hiring with discriminatory criteria.
· Lack of promotion due to gender or age.
· Termination of the employment contract without legal reasons, but for subjective reasons.
B. Education and health
In education, discrimination manifests itself through bullying, the lack of support teachers for children with disabilities, and the unequal treatment of children from minority communities. In health, complaints relate to the quality of service and access to reimbursable medications.
C. Provision of goods and services
This ranges from refusal of entry to a public environment (bar, shop) due to ethnicity, to difficulties in obtaining banking or administrative services for the elderly and people with disabilities.
