ALBANIA: COMBATTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

UNCLAS TIRANA 001068

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PGOV AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: COMBATTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE


1. (U) Ambassador Withers hosted a roundtable discussion at the
University of Tirana Law Center on December 11 to mark the end of
sixteen days of activism in honor of the International Day Against
Gender-Based Violence. Participants included students, civil
society leaders and government officials who debated with the
audience how far Albania has come toward implementing recent legal
advances against domestic violence and changing outdated societal
attitudes toward gender equality. Passionate questions from student
activists were met with equally vehement responses that highlighted
both progress and the general societal will to see it furthered.


2. (U) In an historic grassroots effort, Albanian civil society
groups initiated a draft law on "Measures for Prevention of Violence
within the Family" and submitted it to Parliament with 20,000
citizens' signaturEs of support. This was the first time
legislation was generated from the ground up in Albania. The law
took effect in June 2007. It provides administrative and legal aid
for victims, including physical shelter and psychological support
for abused women and measures such as the right to a restraining
order against the perpetrator of violence.


3. (U) Many actors that work directly on implementation of the
anti-domestic violence law attended the roundtable, spiritedly
promoting recent achievements against charges that these nascent
efforts did not amount to significant change. Student volunteers in
social work and pro bono legal aid, as well as NGO representatives,
argued instead that over time the law's positive effects would
multiply, affecting underlying attitudes as well as legalities, but
that such change takes time.


4. (U) Participants agreed that key to the law's ultimate success,
as well as to increasing gender equality, will be increased
awareness of women's legal rights, not only in the capital city but
particularly in outlying villages where traditional views are
reinforced by a lack of economic opportunity for women. The
approximately one hundred people gathered for the roundtable event
are among those citizens who will continue to be a rallying force
for gender equality in Albania.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: The roundtable elicited a higher-than-expected
turnout and strong response from the largely student audience.
Notably, almost half were men. These students, including a male law
student participating on the panel, spoke vehemently regarding the
need for raised awareness and gender equality in Albania. We hope
the roundtable provoked further thought and piqued the interest of
the "next generation" on this issue. It also highlighted a singular
Albanian accomplishment and success with its path-breaking law
against family violence, which may inspire further grassroots
efforts by those who saw evidence of the venture's success.
WITHERS