This country needs to reflect deeply and government needs to implement stronger measures to improve treatment of women in society
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL
It is a badge of shame. There is no worst place in Europe to be a woman than Albania, according to a key international index. Albania ranks near the bottom for most indicators, but none is more important to be dealt with as violence against women.
According to the World Economic Forum, Albania ranks near the bottom of the global gender gap index, 108th out of 136 countries ranked globally, far below any of the neighbors, and dead last in Europe, with the exception of Turkey.
Moreover, according to a recent national survey on gender-based violence, carried out by the Albania’s government with the supported of the United Nations, 51 percent of the women surveyed admit they have suffered emotional abuse in their lives, 39 percent have suffered psychological abuse, 31 percent physical abuse and 13 percent have suffered sexual abuse.
The numbers won’t surprise many in Albania, where the media is filled almost weekly with news of women being murdered, beaten or otherwise maltreated by male partners or family members. Yet this sort of indifference, often associated with silence about the problem, cannot be allowed to go on. Something must be done – both by the society at large and state structures.
This week marked the International Day Against Violence Toward Women, a good time to start action on this pressing issue. On this occasion, this newspaper believes it is important for this society to heal by moving away from its darker angels of gender-based violence as a first step to heal as a country that has had its share of trauma in its recent history.
Beyond societal reflection, the state structures need to immediately stop their lukewarm approach to domestic violence and increase penalties for crimes that either go unpunished or are given light punishments. Courts should make sentences harsher when there is a history of abuse and violence toward women.
Both the problems mentioned above are not limited to violence against women. They are real issues that affect all Albanians and that are part of the country’s struggles as it tries to move forward in the world. But dealing with the part that affects what has been traditionally the more vulnerable half of the society will help the entire country move forward faster and better.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel. One of the reasons Albania ranked so low in the global index was lack of political empowerment for women. The new government has placed women in many key positions. There are more female cabinet ministers than ever. More women are now joining the police ranks and many others are taking an active role in leadership positions.
All these are positive elements that need to be fostered. But they cannot also be token moves. Women need to take a real stronger role in how the country is run if this society is to modernize enough for the country to meet its European and liberal democratic aspirations.
At the end of the day, Albania simply cannot afford this badge of shame. This society deserves better.
