Further strengthen the commitment to empower women and girls

On the eve of March 8, the International Day for Women's Rights, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in cooperation with UN Women organized the activity « Meeting generations: three decades of change for gender equality and empowerment of women ».

With the participation of the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albana Kociu, the EU Ambassador to Tirana, Silvio Gonzato, the new Deputy Ambassador of Sweden and the head of the Swedish Development Agency, Erik Ille, the UN Permanent Representative in Albania, Fiona McCluney and Civil Society. Further on women's rights, economic empowerment and protection from violence as a key to meeting sustainable development objectives and EU membership standards.

In his speech during the event, Minister Kociu said that the basis we have built is a very strong starting point for further steps, noting that « today, we have more women in politics, diplomacy, venture and once unimaginable professions. » Kociu noted progress in some areas from the legal framework where free legal aid is offered to women and girls. « This framework includes, among other things, provisions as free legal aid for women and girls, in all their diversity and especially for those of the most marginalized groups, » she said.

The Minister brought to the attention the commitments made by strengthening the local protection and support mechanisms such as the treatment of cases of violence in all 61 municipalities through the coordinated reference mechanism (MCYS), the expansion of social care services from 14 to 39 services for women and girls, and tripling economic support for survivors of domestic violence.

The Minister of Health and Social Protection underlined that “the Albanian model of general gender budgeting is a success story that continues to evolve. We have significantly increased the percentage of total budget expenditures in medium -term budget programs for gender issues ”.

« I am undoubtedly confident that if we are together in a powerful alliance we will achieve well all these efforts and will continue to be even more proud of the achievements we have made and will continue to do together, » said the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albana Kociu.