According to data made public by UN Women, 72% of femicide victims in Albania had a previous history of violence.
At a joint conference organized by UN Women in Albania, together with the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Justice, on March 8, several reports with data on women's access to justice, as well as the latest figures on femicide in the country, were presented.
The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, stated that guaranteeing women's rights remains a priority for the country's integration into the European Union.
"Flowers are beautiful, but I don't believe women need them more than equal rights and a functioning support system," Silvio Gonzato said during his speech.
Although Albania has made progress in adopting laws that guarantee the rights of women and girls, such as the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on Prevention and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, their actual implementation still remains a challenge in the country's context.
Data provided by the Ombudsperson's Femicide Observatory report for 2024 show that laws alone are not enough, as the most disturbing and extreme phenomenon of violence against women - femicide - continues to be present in high numbers.
Vilma Shurdha, commissioner of the General Section of the People's Advocate, emphasized that the latest report had recorded 18 cases of extreme violence against women, with 56% of these cases being recorded in rural areas.
"There have been 5 recorded murders committed against women, 6 attempted murders, 3 cases of intentional injury and 4 cases of suicide," said Shurdha regarding the findings of the Femicide Observatory report.
According to this report, 19 perpetrators have been identified for these acts of extreme violence, of which 17 are boys and men, while 2 are women and girls.
The data further shows that 72% of the victims had a previous history of violence from the perpetrator, while five of them had sought help from the police.
These figures confirm that, although laws exist, institutions still fall short in providing effective protection mechanisms for girls and women.
Experts emphasized that, beyond passing laws, protection orders must be implemented consistently, risks must be assessed early, and institutions must work together to prevent the escalation of violence.
They added that violence against women not only creates effects and trauma on the primary victims, but also on their children and family members.
"The victims of the crimes were mothers of 33 children, including 9 minors, where three minors lost their lives after being killed by their mother before she committed suicide," the Ombudsman's report quotes on the consequences of femicide that go beyond the victim's life.
UN Women representatives called for urgent and decisive action to end impunity and make equality a reality for all girls and women, both in law and in practice./BIRN/
