Human rights

The Presence works alongside national authorities, institutions, civil society organizations and citizens to strengthen fundamental human rights and freedoms in Albania. The Presence monitors the human rights situation in Albania, as well as reports and provides targeted advice to relevant authorities to ensure the efficient implementation of legislation in line with International obligations, standards and OSCE Commitments. It supports national human rights institutions in enhancing their capacities to effectively carry out their role for the protection and promotion of human rights and encourages the mainstreaming of human rights into main state policies. The Presence also supports authorities to improve detention conditions in prisons in line with international standards and good practices.

The Presence is actively involved in the promotion of the rights of people in detention for several years and has contributed to the progressive improvement of conditions in prisons. It has also played a significant role in the establishment of the Probation Service as an alternative to imprisonment to alleviate overcrowding and has supported this institution since its inception in 2009.

Over the last six years, The Presence has been actively contributing in supporting nation-wide discourse, research and academic discussions on transitional justice in an effort to promote an inclusive national dialogue about human rights violations of Albania’s communist regime, particularly reaching out to youth.

Most of the activities are organized and implemented in partnership with local institutions such as the People’s Advocate, the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, the Commissioner for Right of Information and Data Protection, the General Directorate of Prisons and the General Directorate of the Probation Service, the National Centre on CVE, the University of Tirana as well as civil society organizations.

Moreover, the Presence co-operates closely with the OSCE/ODIHR, and other OSCE field operations in the region as well as with international partners in Albania.