Albania


Share
Share

The following information is based on the Amnesty International Report 2021/22. This report documented the human rights situation in 149 countries in 2021, as well as providing global and regional analysis. It presents Amnesty International’s concerns and calls for action to governments and others.

ALBANIA 2021

In April, parliamentary elections confirmed the third mandate for the ruling Socialist Party. The right to privacy of around 900,000 citizens was violated. Violence persisted against women, journalists and LGBTI people. The absence of a specialized medical institution made implementation of European Court of Human Rights and High Court rulings impossible.

Right to privacy

In early April an unlawful database holding the personal data of some 900,000 citizens and used by the Socialist Party for electoral purposes was leaked days before the elections. A total of 162 citizens sued the Socialist Party for violation of data protection law. In December, two other databases were leaked, causing public outrage. They held personal data such as salaries, workplaces and type of car owned for more than 600,000 taxpayers.

In July, the Constitutional Court nullified certain provisions of the Law on the State Police which had allowed the police to conduct mass surveillance of citizens without prior court authorization. Those provisions were found unconstitutional as they imposed illegal limitations on the right to privacy.

Freedom of expression

In April, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure seized the database containing the personal data of 900,000 citizens (see above: Right to privacy) from the news portal Lapsi.al, which had made it public. Concerns arose regarding freedom of expression, protection of sources and intimidation of journalists. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued an interim measure ordering the authorities to cease seizing any data from the news portal.

While filming a police operation in July, journalist Ergys Gjencaj was physically attacked by officers. He was detained and his phone was confiscated.

Cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment

In July, following the ECtHR decision on Strazimiri v. Albania, the High Court ordered that Arben Strazimiri be moved from prison facilities to a specialized medical institution, in order to end the inhuman and degrading treatment he had suffered.

Right to health

In August, the Ministry of Health ordered compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for high-risk groups such as medical staff, teachers and students.

According to the Ombudsman, the number of people infected with Covid-19 far outnumbered the treatment packages for which they could be reimbursed. Patients diagnosed during March-November 2020, as well as those tested positive by private health institutions, were not eligible to be reimbursed for medication.

LGBTI people’s rights

LGBTI people remained subject to discrimination and harassment. A transgender woman was beaten in the street. In June, the Civil Registry prohibited a lesbian couple from registering as parents.

Violence against women and girls

Women candidates faced hate speech during the electoral campaign in March.

Violence against women sparked public outrage. By early December, 2,754 protection orders had been issued, but were poorly implemented. According to State Police, of all murders committed during the year, 30% were by men against their domestic partners; 16 women were killed. In May, one woman was murdered at Elbasan District Court after her divorce hearing.

Right to a fair trial

Justice reform continued slowly. The ECtHR upheld the legitimacy of the vetting process in the case of a constitutional judge who was dismissed, after assessing her claims for violations of the rights to fair trial and privacy.

Refugees’ and migrants’ rights

In August, the prime minister announced that Albania would temporarily host 4,000 people from Afghanistan. By October, 866 had arrived and were granted temporary protection status for one year.

Albania Newsroom



February 18, 2016 • Report

Amnesty International State of the World 2015-2016

International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

February 25, 2015 • Report

State of the World 2014/2015

This has been a devastating year for those seeking to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the suffering of war zones. Governments pay lip service to the importance of protecting civilians. And yet the world's politicians have miserably failed to protect those in greatest need. Amnesty International believes that this can and must finally change.

May 15, 2013 • Report

Annual Report: Albania 2013

Republic of Albania Head of state Bujar Nishani (replaced Bamir Topi in July) Head of government Sali Berisha The government adopted reforms which restricted the immunity of MPs and other …

March 26, 2011 • Report

Europe: Open Secret: Mounting Evidence of Europe’s Complicity in Rendition and Secret Detention

Europe: Open Secret: Mounting Evidence of Europe’s Complicity in Rendition and Secret Detention Available in PDF only.

March 19, 2011 • Report

Annual Report: Albania 2010

Head of state Bamir Topi Head of government Sali Berisha Death penalty abolitionist for all crimes Population 3.2 million Life expectancy 76.5 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 18/17 per 1,000 Adult …

February 22, 2016 • Press Release

Amnesty International’s Annual State of the World Report Slams Governments, Including the U.S., for Global Assault on Freedoms

On the launch of its 2015 State of the World report, Amnesty International USA urged President Obama to use his last year in office to bring U.S. laws and policies in line with international human rights standards.

February 18, 2016 • Press Release

Your rights in jeopardy, global assault on freedoms, warns Amnesty International

International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

DONATE