The Ombudsman welcomes the adoption of the new law “On Gender Equality”, an important step towards the full approximation of the Albanian legal framework with international and European Union standards.

For years, the Ombudsman has recommended improvements similar to those highlighted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the GREVIO expert group, calling for the strengthening of institutional mechanisms for the implementation of the principle of gender equality in practice.

Gender equality is not an ideological or political issue, but a fundamental human right, sanctioned in the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and in international conventions ratified by the country. Its full implementation also constitutes one of the fundamental criteria of the European integration process.

In this context, the Ombudsman appreciates the efforts to improve the legal framework, but at the same time emphasizes the importance of such acts being built on broad political and social consensus, to ensure that their implementation is not hindered by polarization or public misunderstandings.

The Ombudsman will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the law and contribute with expertise, in order to ensure that any legal reform in this area serves a real purpose.