World urges greater participation of Albanian women

TIRANA, March 8 – The international community strongly urged Albania and Albanian women to be more present in the daily life of the country.
International Women’s Day (8 March) is an important opportunity to celebrate the economic, political and social contribution of women past, present and future, here in Albania and worldwide.
There were many letters published from world personalities that were also aiming at Albanian women’s participation.
Fifteen years after the groundbreaking Fourth World Conference on Women, which was held in Beijing in 1995, the international community has clear legal norms on the prohibition of discrimination and the active promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment, said a statement from the European Commission delegation office in Tirana.
But it added that implementation is slow in many countries of the world. From a new 10-country study on women’s health and domestic violence conducted by the World Health Organization, it appears that between 15% and 71% of women reported physical or sexual violence by a husband or partner. Between 4% and 12% of women reported being physically abused during pregnancy. Every year, about 5,000 women are murdered by family members in the name of honor each year worldwide.
The Council of the EU was expected to adopt conclusions on ‘Eradication of Violence against Women in the European Union’ as it aims to also lead by example in the internal policies.
Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission said:
“International Women’s Day provides a great opportunity for each one of us to reflect on our responsibility for working towards the eradication of gender inequality. This is very much true also in international relations, where all must play their part in reaching this common goal. Sustainable peace and security cannot be achieved without the full participation of women. ”
In Albania, the gender quota in the electoral code succeeded in doubling the number of women MPs in Parliament. And there’s a better legal framework in place to protect women against discrimination or worse, domestic violence. Important steps but not enough, said British Ambassador Fiona McIllham.
UN Special Reporter Philip Alston visited the country recently and has noted in his early report that domestic violence remains a serious problem in Albania.
While the number of women coming forward to report cases of violence has increased, funding and support for victims is still limited and media reporting on this issue is often irresponsible, at times, even harmful to women. Community understanding and support for the victims of violence and discrimination is still lacking. Tackling this agenda would demonstrate a true commitment to empowering and celebrating women.
Inclusion and the fight for individual and women’s rights must be an ongoing, collaborative and dynamic process, she wrote in a public letter, adding that diversity is something that goes to the heart of modern Britain and the essence of who we are as a European nation and that’s what gives us their strength and dynamism.
“But it’s up to all of us – Governments, civil society, ordinary citizens, men, women, whether in the UK, in the EU, in Albania – to make sure we harness that talent and energy fully,” she said.