Press Release

UN in Albania advocates for review of the Gender Equality Law

08 March 2023

The adoption of the Law on Gender Equality almost 15 years ago represented a key milestone in bringing the national legal framework in line with international standards. Over the years, the gender equality agenda has continued to evolve, including thanks to a strong feminist movement. The UN in Albania has taken the opportunity of International Women Day to reflect on these developments and to advocate for a revision of the Law, which can be particularly helpful in the context of Albania’s accession to the EU.

Through a joint position paper, the UN in Albania wishes to offer an initial contribution to the public conversation on the revision of the Law, which is included as part of the implementation of the existing National Strategy on Gender Equality.

The 2008 Gender Equality Law played a key role in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in the country. It introduced gender quotas to increase women's representation in elected positions, required that budgets and policies consider the needs and priorities of both women and men. The Law aimed to eliminate discrimination based on gender across sectors of government action, providing for adequate protection mechanisms. Thanks to its provisions, other key pieces of legislation were strengthened, such as for example on labour participation, property rights, representation, and other aspects of people’s lives.

A revised Law on Gender Equality can contribute to accelerate progress over gender equality that is integral to the SDGs, including for example through sustained focus on promoting agency and representation of women from disadvantaged groups, as well as fostering investments in gender capacity and coordination among institutions, both at central and local levels.

Read the Position Paper here.