Amnesty International Report on Violence Against Women

10 April 2006

On March 30, 2006, Amnesty International presented its latest report Albania � The Violence against Women: It is not their Fault. Representatives of Albanian and foreign NPO's, representatives of the media and State Institutions participated at the launch of the report.

In the Report, Amnesty International calls for women who have suffered violence to be able to enforce their rights to protection, reparation and redress. In recommendations to the government of the Republic of Albania, the report calls for a coordinated response to violence against women in the family, an integrated multi-agency approach that includes not only law enforcement and judicial authorities, but also health care and education professionals who may assist in the prevention of such violence.

Where prevention fails, law enforcement officials and prosecutors should record and monitor reported incidents, act to protect victims of violence, and respond promptly and effectively to allegations of, or threats of, violence against women. Prosecutors and judiciary should ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Women should have prompt access to judicial mechanisms affording protection, and to appropriate health care and shelters providing physical protection, medical assistance and psychological support. In this context, the organization calls on the authorities to cooperate with women�s and other NGOs to ensure, including through additional funding, their provision of appropriate support and assistance.

The representatives of Amnesty International said that the report is part of the international campaign of the organization under the motto �Stop Violence against Women�, which will be followed by other initiatives that fight violence against women in Albania.

The report is based on a research conducted by Amnesty International, which included the monitoring and documentation of civil processes and press articles over a period of more than 3 years. It is based also on other researches carried out by professional and academic Albanian NPO-s, and on interviews given by Albanian NPO-s, state officers, police officers, judges and medical staff.

The Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Equal Opportunities, present at the launch of the report, says she was willing to collaborate with any NPO-s to prevent and eliminate the violence against women. The ministry at the present is working together with Center of Gender Alliance to prepare a Strategy and Working Plan on Violence against Women in Albania.

To read the full Report, please visit the following Link.