Shqip
English
Tirana 8 June 2018 - The Albanian National Youth Network (ANYN) expresses its indignation over the repeated cases of violence against girls in Albania resulting in the loss of life. The last case where a 31-year-old man murdered a 19-year-old girl, because she refused to continue to be his girlfriend, is a huge alarm bell, not only for the country's institutions but also for all Albanian society. A similar case just 6 months ago ended the life of another young girl.
With revolt and concern ANYN asks today:
How much is the life of young people and girls valued in our country? What are public institutions doing to reduce girls’ victimisation? What is the country doing to change the mindset where girls and women are “the property” of men. It is our belief that men take away the life of girl and women and victimise them as women and girls are not protected by the Government. There are no education and community services to help young people, boys and girls, to change fundamentally the way they think and get informed on their rights.
Faced with this vicious situation, the Albanian National Youth Network, publicly requests the Albanian Parliament to have use all the mechanisms that has in place to implement the Resolution on Violence against women and girls urgently! Although the resolution was approved as of December 2017, no reports have been published on its implementation and how the Parliament of Albania is tackling violence and crimes against girls and women in Albania.
Media reports stated today that the young girl had repeatedly requested protection from the National Police Authority! Based on this information, ANYN requires a full and in-depth investigation by the Ministry of Interior to seek clarity on what measures did the Police take to protect the victim. Such investigation should also include finding information on the supplier of the gun used to commit this murder. Given this situation, we ask the Albanian lawmakers to further strengthen the mechanisms for the identification of possession of weapons.
Violence against girls and women in Albania is wide spread. More than 50% of women and girls report violence in the family and their relationships. ANYN requires the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to provide and finance community services to urgently prevent gender-based crimes and to assist young girls and women with free public community services. We urge the Institute of Public Health, to publicise data and reports on the mental health situation of young people and women in Albania.
Meanwhile we ask the Ministry of Education to immediately establish an expansive plan on violence prevention against children in schools, with special focus young girls.
Finally, we also request from the Albanian Government and the Ministry of Education and Health to urgently establish a National Plan on Prevention of Violence and for the establishment of community services that are indispensable throughout the country.
