No Excuse for Gender Based Violence

10 December 2023

Violence against women and girls continues to be a shadow pandemic in Albania. According to a recent WHO report the country ranks second in Central Europe concerning the violence against women. The numbers are staggering, with an average of 4,000 reported cases each year. Over the past five years, 33,628 women and girls have sought protection orders, underscoring the depth of the problem. In the first 10 months of 2023 alone, 611 individuals have been arrested for domestic violence, and tragically, 10 girls and women have lost their lives.

To address this pressing matter, we, at UNOPS in Albania, engaged the support of Albanian national celebrity, TV, and theater actress Ema Andrea, along with young artists, to join our efforts in raising awareness and calling for urgent action. Together, we produced a video for the 16 Days of Action against Gender-Based Violence campaign, urging survivors and witnesses to report incidents to the police and call a dedicated hotline. Ms. Andrea visited a high school in Kavaja, fostering an open and honest dialogue about the role of the younger generation in dismantling stereotypes and contributing to the construction of a more equitable society. Additionally, our engineers conducted a series of Toolbox talks with our contractors working on renovation sites, encouraging them to take a stand against gender-based violence.