“Stop violence against women and girls” is needed now more than ever!

Under the lead of UN Women Albania, all UN agencies in Albania joined forces to orange the world and spread an important message: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW! 

During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based were organised over 300 activities all over Albania, involving civil society organisations, private sector and public institutions to bring attention to the persisting “shadow epidemic” of violence against women and girls.  

The campaign was symbolically launched by lighting in orange the National History Museum in Tirana, together with members of the international community and national institutions. 

Other historic buildings, such as the Archaeological Museum of Durres and the Monastery Church in Rubik, were lit in orange in sign of solidarity with the global campaign. 

An exhibition on bodily autonomy in partnership with UNFPA, with creative works from young artists (previously featured in Korca and Shkodra), was installed the pedestrian area of Tirana until 10th of December. The event was joined by all women ambassadors in Albania to encourage all victims of violence and emphasise once again that violence against women and girls is an act of barbarism, inhumanity, on which we must not be silent. 

A bus tour travelled in 12 municipalities around the country to train high school girls on self-defence and how to handle verbal, physical and emotional abuse. 

Together with all UN staff and family members, we delivered our message during the football match Albania - Norway national teams for “FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. The match was aired on several platforms around Europe and available to over 80 million people. 

With the initiative of the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ms. Ogerta Manastirliu, an orange bus toured across Albania to spread the message for ending violence against women and domestic violence. The bus tour, which started in the city of Kamza, aimed to raise awareness among high school students and communities around Albania to take action to eliminate all types of violence with special focus to VAW. 

Other activities were organised across municipalities with community members, youth, activists and other actors to discuss, share ideas and promote behavioural change. 

Ending gender-based violence is our shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play. 

We still need change and will continue being committed to standing strong and taking action for that change. We will not stop until there is an end to gender based violence and all women and girls are safe.