On press freedom, the report highlights that “the constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected these rights, although defamation remained a criminal offense.”

In April, parliament established an ad hoc committee on disinformation, inviting members of the media and NGOs to participate and monitor its work. “Media outlets and civil society viewed these moves as a positive step toward safeguarding freedom of expression,” the report says.

The document also notes that “law and the constitution prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention and provide the right of any person to challenge the legality of arrest or detention in court, and the government generally respected these provisions.”

However, judicial proceedings were slowed by a shortage of judges and prosecutors.
“Limited resources, inadequate space, poor court-calendar management, insufficient staff, and the absence of attorneys and witnesses also hampered timely adjudication. According to GDP figures, the vetting process of the justice system further exacerbated the problem, leaving vacancies in courts and prosecutors’ offices,” the report states.

On labor issues, the report points out that “the law provides for a minimum wage in all sectors, and the national minimum wage was higher than the national poverty threshold.”

Regarding refugee protection, it notes that “the government cooperated with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations to provide protection and assistance to refugees, returnees, asylum seekers, and other persons of concern.”

The report reiterates that Albania’s key human rights concerns in 2024 included “credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including self-censorship by journalists,” while again emphasizing that “the government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses.”

On freedom of the press, it adds that “citizens were free to openly criticize the government, including through traditional and social media, and they did so.”

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Participants discussed achievements, challenges and actions taken throughout 2023 to advance “freedom, equality and justice for everyone”.

“As freedom and justice are intertwined with the removal of discrimination and increased institutional respect of human rights and freedoms, the meeting provided an opportunity to increase the awareness of civil society organizations about their crucial role to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations issued by the national human rights institutions,” the OSCE Presence said on Wednesday.

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The aim of the Forum is to promote the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights in the region, encourage regional cooperation in the continued development of the rule of law and human rights, and assist the process of EU integration of the region.

The 2022 Forum will focus on the protection of human rights in times of emergency.

Albania’s Constitutional Court Chief Justice Vitore Tusha delivered an opening speech to the event, saying “the Forum will help us to exchange our experiences, the nuances of domestic legislation, the standards of national legislation and protection of human rights relative to the proportionality of legislative interventions.”

The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Robert Spano delivered the key speech on “Inclusive democracy and the rule of law in times of crisis.”

The Forum will present an opportunity to reflect on key legal developments and lessons learned during this period. The Forum will also see the launch of our updated guide on Covid-19 and human rights, which takes account of relevant European and domestic jurisprudence delivered since the start of the pandemic. These cases, and the updates to the guide, provide vital guidance on questions regarding how to balance and protect rights in the context of the pandemic, but also have wider importance regarding the protection of rights during times of emergency more generally.

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The United States remains committed to human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons as constitutional principles that continue to drive U.S. diplomacy.

President Biden issued the Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World this year.

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“Great exchange today between Albanian key stakeholders in protecting human rights and EU Rights Agency in in a webinar organised by the EU Delegation to Albania. Albania’s Observer status to the EU Agency will help Albania align further with the EU practices on fundamental rights, the European Union in Albania said on Friday.

“Very pleased to exchange today about fundamental rights together with EU Rights Agency and Albanian civil society representatives,” the EU Ambassador to Albania Luigi Soreca said.

“Albanian independent institutions that have protection of Human Rights and anti-discrimination as their main mandate should be fully associated to the work with EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA),” Ambassador Soreca added. //a.i/