TIRANA, Dec. 5 – Albania’s parliament has approved a resolution to address domestic violence, highlighting measures that will lead to violence prevention.
The resolution was one of the rare pieces of legislation that has received no votes against in parliament and was approved with full consensus.
It was spearheaded by three women MPs — Albana Vokshi (DP), Vasilika Hysi (SP) and Kajda Gjosha (SMI).
“We are convinced that much more can be done in this area,” Hysi said.
Lawmakers expressed great concern about the increase of violent incidents and the inability of the state protect the victims of such acts.
The parliament denounced violence within the family and evaluated it as criminal and threatening toward the very foundation of Albanian society.
The legislative body has approved the creation of a special sub-committee that will deal with preventing and reducing violence within the family using new legal tools. The sub-committee is to be established within 15 days.
The decision of the parliament aims to support the victims of domestic violence that have the courage to step up and report it, as well as cooperate with the relevant legal bodies, in order to ensure strong parliamentary supervision and a careful examination of all domestic violence reports.
The permanent sub-committee that will deal with prevention and protection from domestic violence will operate under the parliamentary committee for social issues.
The special sub-committee is expected to inform the plenary sessions of parliament every six months on the work and additional preventive measures of state institutions, as well as on the reduction and protection against domestic violence.
Within two months, the government must give the parliament a full analysis and a national register for domestic violence.
The parliament believes that a single structure should coordinate all institutional activities that aim to prevent and reduce domestic violence, as well as protect victims, especially children, women, the elderly and people with disabilities.
The resolution also requested the abolition of the possibility for a domestic violator to benefit from amnesties or different conveniences after being convicted by a court of law.
MPs requested the review of protective measures against domestic violence, as they are still so minimal it is often still possible for the perpetrator and the victim to live under the same roof even after the court’s restraining order.
Other measures proposed by the parliament were financial help, increased employment opportunities, accommodation and medical and social services for the victims.
The resolution also mandates that the police should survey violators through electronic means when they are a threat to others.
Lastly, the court, according to them, should make issuing restraining orders easier and not prolong the finalization of the legal process, despite the victims’ withdrawal of charges in many cases.
