Right to health

Several patients needing cancer treatment were transferred by doctors from the state Mother Teresa Hospital in the capital, Tirana to their private, fee-charging clinics. The doctors were suspended and investigations were ongoing. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights highlighted concerns about inadequacies in healthcare infrastructure, shortage of personnel, lack of access to specialized services for sexual and reproductive health and unequal distribution of healthcare services, particularly in rural areas.

Sexual and gender-based violence

The police reported that, in the first six months of the year, 686 women had been subjected to domestic violence, an increase of 30 cases compared to the previous year. A study in May highlighted that lack of institutional support forced victims of domestic violence back to their abusers. The UN ESC Committee highlighted that the procedure for obtaining free legal aid should be reviewed to ensure better access for domestic violence victims.

Cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment

In January, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture once again expressed concerns about the living conditions of forensic psychiatric patients in detention. At the temporary facility housing psychiatric patients within Lezha Prison, the Committee was concerned about overcrowding, lack of medical staff and poor infrastructure. The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture separately reported a high number of people in pretrial detention and inadequate access to healthcare for people in detention.

Freedom of expression

In May, the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters without Borders found that press freedom and independence of the Albanian media were “threatened by conflicts of interest between the business and political worlds, a flawed legal framework and partisan regulation”. It found that journalists continued to face intimidation from both politicians and organized crime.

Refugees’ and migrants’ rights

In January, the Constitutional Court gave the green light for parliament to ratify an agreement with Italy regarding the construction of two detention centres in Albania to hold asylum seekers rescued by Italian state ships, despite concerns over arbitrary detention. The first asylum seekers detained under the agreement, from Bangladesh and Egypt, were returned to Italy following another Italian court decision in October; this granted them the right to have their asylum claims processed in Italy.

Discrimination

Roma and Egyptian people

In April, the CERD Committee highlighted persistent challenges for Roma and Egyptian people, including difficulties in obtaining birth registration and identity documents, and accessing public services. The committee found evidence of de facto segregation and discrimination of Roma and Egyptian children in some schools.

LGBTI people

In May, a symbolic same-sex marriage in Tirana sparked controversy despite not being legally recognized. It triggered outrage from the political right and religious groups, leading to increased hate speech against the LGBTI community.

In July, the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity urged the government to align laws and policies with the realities faced by LGBTI people, recognizing their experience of stigmatization and discrimination in education, healthcare, employment and daily life.