TIRANA, Nov 21 /ATA/ – Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Evis Sala, joined a high-level conference organised by the Italian government and the OSCE, focused on femicide – which she described as one of the gravest human rights violations of our time.
Speaking alongside ministers from Italy, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Cyprus and others, Sala outlined the situation in Albania, steps taken over the years and challenges requiring urgent action.
“Femicide is not only a matter of criminal justice. It is a public health emergency, a question of social justice and a human rights violation rooted in structural gender inequality,” she said, noting investments in training front-line professionals – doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers – to identify early warning signs and intervene immediately.
Sala underlined the need for accurate data and strong institutional mechanisms. She presented the role of Albania’s Femicide Observatory, established in March 2024 by the Ombudsman with support from UN Women – the first mechanism of its kind in the Balkans and among the few in Europe.
“We have created multidisciplinary teams in every municipality to ensure a coordinated response and expanded shelters and psychological support services, including for children who survive these crimes. We are working toward a system where silence is no longer the easiest path,” she said.
The minister called for deeper regional cooperation, stressing that “femicide knows no borders” and that trafficked women and vulnerable groups remain at heightened risk.
“Every warning sign will be treated with urgency. Every woman’s voice will be heard and protected. Every child affected by violence will receive full support. All regional institutions must act together with the seriousness this crisis demands, to build a system where protection is not a promise but a guarantee,” Sala said.
She commended Italy for its initiative to classify femicide as a specific criminal offence, and praised the OSCE for its work on data standards, early-warning systems and institutional coordination.
Over the past decade, Albania has worked intensively to align its legal and policy frameworks with international standards, including the Istanbul Convention, GREVIO and CEDAW recommendations, and the EU acquis.
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