Gender Responsive Governance

Outcome 4

By 2026, gender responsive governance strengthens equality and nondiscrimination, promotes women’s empowerment and human rights, and reduces violence against women and children.

Alignment with SDGs

“I Have a Dream…”, a photo project and exhibition giving voice to young women in Albania

A photographic project that gives voice to the dreams of young women from all over Albania was exhibited in Tirana on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Renowned photographer Jutta Benzenberg partnered with UN Women in Albania to bring to attention the reality of young women who live in remote parts of the country where gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms are still dominant. “Women and girls in these far-flung, still overwhelmingly patriarchal corners of the country, are often missing their voice. They have fewer options for education, no option to go abroad like many of their male peers, little say or choice in their own lives. But each of these girls have dreams for their own future,” said Jutta Benzenberg, who has been photographing people around Albania for over 30 years.

Read the original story here.

Part of an exhibition by Jutta Benzenberg

End Violence Against Women and Children

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated an already existing high prevalence of violence. In 2022, UN agencies contributed to the overall goal of eliminating violence against women and children by providing support in the areas reported below.

A strengthened normative and accountability framework was developed for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Girls and Children (EVAWGC), including harmful practices, through development of a Commentary on implementation of Law no. 9669/2016 ‘On Measures against Domestic Violence’ (amended), ratification of ILO Convention no. 190 ‘Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work’ by the Albanian Parliament, development of policy and procedural safeguards free from any forms of violence, harassment and sexual harassment for the University of Tirane, and of a set of quality criteria for service provision by the statutory child protection workforce, which will improve central government’s ability to monitor services and performances of child protection workers. Government was enabled to report on international and national commitments, including through the CEDAW review of its State Report and the monitoring of the National Gender Equality Strategy. The Albanian Audio-Visual Media Authority included a special chapter on GE and non-discrimination in the new Broadcasting Code, which establishes new standards related to gender-sensitive reporting and elimination of discrimination and protection of privacy of, inter alia, women victims of violence.

Advances with regard to evidence for EVAWGC, including harmful practices, were ensured through finalisation of the survey ‘Knowledge attitudes and behaviours towards violence against children in Albania’, which informed on needed interventions and the triggering of a more protective attitude towards children. An assessment report on the accessibility of shelters for survivors of violence with disability and a policy paper on the state of data collection with an intersectoral nature, specifically for women with disabilities, Roma and Egyptian women and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex+, will inform advocacy efforts in 2023. These aim at improving standards of service delivery for vulnerable groups and data collection centralized around the principle of Leaving No One Behind. An HBSC survey of 11, 13 and 15-year-olds was designed in 2022, with implementation planned for 2023, aiming to provide important information on sexual violence among these age groups and support evidence-based intervention in school settings and policy reformulation with a focus on comprehensive sexuality education and GBV. A study of gender-responsive family-friendly policies implemented by private and public sectors was developed and disseminated during 2022. Six youth needs assessments were carried out in the AUs of Berzhite, Bulgarec, Kodovjat, Lunxheri and Velipoje, and some 151 young people were engaged in activities relating to GE, knowledge about GBV and harmful practices, especially the issue of early and child marriage.

In the context of 16 days of Activism to end violence against women, women ambassadors met with members of the National Women Football Team

Read the full results of output 4.1 - End Violence Against Women and Children

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated an already existing high prevalence of violence. In 2022, UN agencies contributed to the overall goal of eliminating violence against women and children by providing support in the areas reported below.

A strengthened normative and accountability framework was developed for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Girls and Children (EVAWGC), including harmful practices, through development of a Commentary on implementation of Law no. 9669/2016 ‘On Measures against Domestic Violence’ (amended), ratification of ILO Convention no. 190 ‘Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work’ by the Albanian Parliament, development of policy and procedural safeguards free from any forms of violence, harassment and sexual harassment for the University of Tirane, and of a set of quality criteria for service provision by the statutory child protection workforce, which will improve central government’s ability to monitor services and performances of child protection workers. Government was enabled to report on international and national commitments, including through the CEDAW review of its State Report and the monitoring of the National Gender Equality Strategy. The Albanian Audio-Visual Media Authority included a special chapter on GE and non-discrimination in the new Broadcasting Code, which establishes new standards related to gender-sensitive reporting and elimination of discrimination and protection of privacy of, inter alia, women victims of violence.

Advances with regard to evidence for EVAWGC, including harmful practices, were ensured through finalisation of the survey ‘Knowledge attitudes and behaviours towards violence against children in Albania’, which informed on needed interventions and the triggering of a more protective attitude towards children. An assessment report on the accessibility of shelters for survivors of violence with disability and a policy paper on the state of data collection with an intersectoral nature, specifically for women with disabilities, Roma and Egyptian women and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex+, will inform advocacy efforts in 2023. These aim at improving standards of service delivery for vulnerable groups and data collection centralized around the principle of Leaving No One Behind. An HBSC survey of 11, 13 and 15-year-olds was designed in 2022, with implementation planned for 2023, aiming to provide important information on sexual violence among these age groups and support evidence-based intervention in school settings and policy reformulation with a focus on comprehensive sexuality education and GBV. A study of gender-responsive family-friendly policies implemented by private and public sectors was developed and disseminated during 2022. Six youth needs assessments were carried out in the AUs of Berzhite, Bulgarec, Kodovjat, Lunxheri and Velipoje, and some 151 young people were engaged in activities relating to GE, knowledge about GBV and harmful practices, especially the issue of early and child marriage.

An improved institutional response to EVAWGC was ensured by the end of 2022. Twenty-six Coordinated Referral Mechanisms (CRMs) were consolidated, serving as an institutional response to Violence Against Women (VAW) at the local level, and the data collection system Recording Violence in Albania (REVALB) was improved to register and track Domestic Violence (DV) cases at the local level. Some 335 CRM members and more than 1,300 service providers were capacitated to provide non-disruptive and accessible support services to DV survivors, including long-term socio-economic reintegration, victims of trafficking, violence and harassment in the workplace in a coordinated manner and the implementation of legislation on DV during emergencies and crisis situations. A total of 46 child protection workers had capacities developed on child risk assessment procedures, case management referral pathways and best interest assessments. Capacity building on social care response to the GBV Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) reached 55 social care providers from the CRM and the social services of Durres, Tirane and Vlore.

Initiatives towards increasing accountability and improving the oversight role for EVAWGC included the finalization of two studies1010 on ‘Violence against women in politics’, one by the People’s Advocate and the CPD in partnership with Albanian Parliament, unpacking the various forms of VAW in politics in the country and putting forward concrete findings and recommendations to be followed by the political parties, Parliament, CSOs and the media. The People’s Advocate new case management system is being developed, enabling the initial registration and follow-up of the cases and the documentation of all actions performed, and expected to complete in early 2023. Women’s organizations are better skilled to monitor policies related to GE and the elimination of VAW and to advocate more strongly for better implementation of laws and policies. The latter included CSO-led monitoring of the law on free legal aid and the law on measures against violence in family relations and other advocacy actions by members of the Monitoring Network Against Gender-Based Violence, supported by the UN.

Improved services for survivors of VAWGC was made possible by Lilium Centre’s specialized integrated emergency support services to thirteen cases of sexual violence and a strengthened cooperation with CRMs and CSOs for referral and rehabilitation support services. Two Regional One-Stop Centres (Barnahus model) for child survivors of sexual abuse and other severe forms of violence were established in the Regional Paediatric Hospitals of Fier and Shkoder. A SOP for One-Stop Centres for sexually and severely abused children was adopted by Instruction of the Minister of Health and Social Protection no. 546, dated 5.10.2022. Four municipalities (Berat, Diber, Korce, Kukes) prepared and integrated socio-economic reintegration plans for survivors of violence into their strategies of local social plans. More than 1,900 women survivors of violence and more than 350 children identified as at high risk of abuse were able to escape violence, benefit from psycho-social and legal support and reintegrate economically. A dedicated guide enabled the National Authority for Electronic Certification and Cybersecurity to develop capacities of more than 500 parents and caregivers in twelve cities to assist children in prevention and response to online risks and harm. Meanwhile, 1,800 children and young people improved their skills in digital literacy and online protection from abuse, exploitation and trafficking. In the areas most impacted by the 2019 earthquake, there has been increased availability of services for women victims of violence. More than 2,000 women and girls and men and boys, including survivors of DV–GBV, have more information on GBV and reporting mechanisms, have benefitted from legal assistance orientation and referral services, and received concrete support through direct and secondary legal aid services, and were emotionally supported through face-to-face psychological services. More than 200,000 people were reached through several campaigns, including ‘How to be safe and create a safe online environment for children and the youth,’ the 16 days of Activism to end violence against women,1111Tjetër herë me vajzë campaign, which addressed gender-biased sex selection, and Rural Women’s Day, which engaged government, academia, the private sector and faith-based institutions. Over 200 women and girls from Roma community, women with disabilities and women from LGBTQI+ community accessed psychosocial counseling, free legal aid and referral to more specialized services. 80 women from marginalized communities enhanced understanding and information on protection mechanisms, by receiving smartphones equipped with the BrightSky application and digital literacy training.

In November 2022, the second phase of the UN Joint Programme on Ending Violence Against Women in Albania was signed by the UN Resident Coordinator, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Swedish Ambassador. The programme will be implemented by UN Women, UNDP and UNFPA and it will build on the results achieved during the first phase of the intervention, with a stronger focus on engaging men and boys and implementing activities at the local level.

Addressing Gender Stereotypes and Harmful Norms and Practices

UN’s contribution in this area aimed towards increasing the knowledge base of duty bearers on gender stereotypes and identifying key partners with the potential of reaching the highest impact in shifting social norms and stereotypes, such as the media and youth, in addition to continued engagement of faith leaders. UN’s advocacy and technical advice to government resulted in the preparation of two strategic documents: 1) National Gender Equality Strategy 2021–2030, and 2) National Agenda for Child Rights, which cover normative development and its implementation, service provision, accountability of perpetrators, community engagement for social and behavioural change, and economic empowerment of girls and young women, particularly from minorities and rural areas. UN also conducted an exercise on how gender issues were addressed during the Covid-19 response, aiming to contribute to sector-wide learning on GE in emergency response and programming. The UN and Tirane Municipality formalized an MoU on Good Parenting work aiming to establish Positive Parenting courses in several community centres. Together with the private sector, UN is promoting family-friendly policies in the workplace and by the end of 2022 seven private companies had partnered the organisation through MoUs to be champion companies that promote gender-responsive family-friendly workplaces. The study Implementing Family-Friendly Policies and Gender Equality in the Public and Private Sectors, launched in June, identified the level of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of such policies among employees and employers in both the private and the public sectors. The findings will support evidence-based advocacy around gender-responsive family policies and identify specific areas for policy recommendations. A policy paper will be prepared based on the findings from analysis of family-friendly policies in the workplace in Albania. Eleven ‘Be a Man Club’ groups are active in the country acting as agents of change for GE and advocating for youth engagement in the fight against harmful practices, gender stereotypes and GBV–DV, while more efforts are put towards their expansion. A Father’s Day event, the campaign Tjetër herë me vajzë, the 3rd edition of the Men and Boys who Inspire Forum and six events at the administration level focused on gender-biased sex selection and the addressing of GBV and other harmful practices such as child and early marriage.

“Next time we hope it is a girl” - an open exhibition to address gender stereotypes

Read the full results of output 4.2 - Adressing Gender Stereotypes and Harmful Norms and Practices

UN’s contribution in this area aimed towards increasing the knowledge base of duty bearers on gender stereotypes and identifying key partners with the potential of reaching the highest impact in shifting social norms and stereotypes, such as the media and youth, in addition to continued engagement of faith leaders. UN’s advocacy and technical advice to government resulted in the preparation of two strategic documents: 1) National Gender Equality Strategy 2021–2030, and 2) National Agenda for Child Rights, which cover normative development and its implementation, service provision, accountability of perpetrators, community engagement for social and behavioural change, and economic empowerment of girls and young women, particularly from minorities and rural areas. UN also conducted an exercise on how gender issues were addressed during the Covid-19 response, aiming to contribute to sector-wide learning on GE in emergency response and programming. The UN and Tirane Municipality formalized an MoU on Good Parenting work aiming to establish Positive Parenting courses in several community centres. Together with the private sector, UN is promoting family-friendly policies in the workplace and by the end of 2022 seven private companies had partnered the organisation through MoUs to be champion companies that promote gender-responsive family-friendly workplaces. The study Implementing Family-Friendly Policies and Gender Equality in the Public and Private Sectors, launched in June, identified the level of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of such policies among employees and employers in both the private and the public sectors. The findings will support evidence-based advocacy around gender-responsive family policies and identify specific areas for policy recommendations. A policy paper will be prepared based on the findings from analysis of family-friendly policies in the workplace in Albania. Eleven ‘Be a Man Club’ groups are active in the country acting as agents of change for GE and advocating for youth engagement in the fight against harmful practices, gender stereotypes and GBV–DV, while more efforts are put towards their expansion. A Father’s Day event, the campaign Tjetër herë me vajzë, the 3rd edition of the Men and Boys who Inspire Forum and six events at the administration level focused on gender-biased sex selection and the addressing of GBV and other harmful practices such as child and early marriage.

Youth-led research, exploring the links between GE, social cohesion challenges and sustainable development in the Western Balkans region is being carried out. The research will engage with students, young activists, youth organizations, young researchers, the media and institutions across the region to articulate issues of toxic masculinity, GE, violence and misogyny with social cohesion challenges, building on the youth platforms and movements that have recently and publicly raised sexism and GBV as key issues of concern. The research findings will inform a regional advocacy campaign in 2023 in Albania, BiH, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting

The SDG database placed Albania among the 19 percent of countries that have an institutionalized method for tracking allocations towards GE. Gender-responsive Budgeting (GRB) remains one of the central approaches in the overall planning and design of the state budget with a total budget allocation for GE of nine percent in the medium-term budget plan (MTBP) 2023–2025, reflected through 47 engendered budget programmes of eleven ministries and two state institutions. These budgetary allocations address directly the needs of most vulnerable women, including fiscal incentives for women in business, social housing and increased social care services. More than 300 officials from government and other institutions had their knowledge on gender mainstreaming increased, and GRB was integrated into MTBP 2023– 2025 and gender statistics as a result of intensive capacity building efforts, whose training module was developed in cooperation with ASPA and certified accordingly. Eight initiatives were undertaken by the National Gender Equality Machinery in support of budget users on engendering the budget documents as a follow up to the trainings conducted. All budget standard instructions issued by MoFE contain GRB as part of the criteria and for the first time, a Gender Budget Statement has been attached to the project budget. The 2023 Budget is open and transparent to citizens and the oversight mechanisms to the Gender-Sensitive Citizen’s Budget are published annually by MoFE. In addition, the second Gender Equality Index for Albania was finalized, following the methodology developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality and shared with MoHSP for endorsement. The UN is also supporting the development of an INFF, ensuring that the framework considers the priorities of children and women.

Gender equality in numbers

Read the full results of output 4.3 - Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting

The SDG database placed Albania among the 19 percent of countries that have an institutionalized method for tracking allocations towards GE. Gender-responsive Budgeting (GRB) remains one of the central approaches in the overall planning and design of the state budget with a total budget allocation for GE of nine percent in the medium-term budget plan (MTBP) 2023–2025, reflected through 47 engendered budget programmes of eleven ministries and two state institutions. These budgetary allocations address directly the needs of most vulnerable women, including fiscal incentives for women in business, social housing and increased social care services. More than 300 officials from government and other institutions had their knowledge on gender mainstreaming increased, and GRB was integrated into MTBP 2023– 2025 and gender statistics as a result of intensive capacity building efforts, whose training module was developed in cooperation with ASPA and certified accordingly. Eight initiatives were undertaken by the National Gender Equality Machinery in support of budget users on engendering the budget documents as a follow up to the trainings conducted. All budget standard instructions issued by MoFE contain GRB as part of the criteria and for the first time, a Gender Budget Statement has been attached to the project budget. The 2023 Budget is open and transparent to citizens and the oversight mechanisms to the Gender-Sensitive Citizen’s Budget are published annually by MoFE. In addition, the second Gender Equality Index for Albania was finalized, following the methodology developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality and shared with MoHSP for endorsement. The UN is also supporting the development of an INFF, ensuring that the framework considers the priorities of children and women.

GRB constitutes twelve percent of local public finances and the municipalities actively use gender key performance indicators in their budget planning. It is also systematically integrated into the continued capacity development of the local administration, resulting in strengthened capacities of municipalities to apply GRB within local budgets with a focus on gender mainstreaming in policies and municipal services. In 2022, six gender-sensitive initiatives came from municipal councillors to the yearly budget of municipalities, and 33 concrete initiatives were budgeted and undertaken by municipalities as a direct result of GRB training and the mentoring processes of more than 180 municipal staff. In addition, the UN proposed a series of improvements to local government MTBPs, aiming to increase rural women’s access to rural services. A gender-sensitive value chain study targeting rural women in Elbasan, Leskovik and Puka was completed and two training activities improved the skills and knowledge of 35 representatives of the agricultural extension services in Elbasan and Korce to design and deliver gender-responsive services to empower rural women and improve their access to advisory services. In addition, the municipalities of Gramsh and Gjirokaster have approved their municipal plans, which include youth gender-responsive area-based plans.

Parliament and oversight bodies have increased capacities to mainstream gender in auditing processes and practices and promote accountability for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) commitments. One National Gender Audit on Women’s Economic Empowerment was conducted by the Albanian Supreme Audit Institution, the first of its kind in the country, providing key recommendations to public institutions on utilizing GRB for progressing women’s economic empowerment. The report is pending final comments from audited institutions and will be made public in 2023. One GRB report from the Ombudsperson – with focus on social services for vulnerable women and girls – was produced and will be made public in 2023. The UN is actively engaging with Members of Parliament to increase their capacities to advocate for more finances for children. MPs and members of the parliamentary group ‘Friends of Children’ addressed the annual Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Nusa Dua, Bali, committing to advocate for increasing the budget for children.

Gender Equality Mechanisms/Leadership and Participation

Shaping and building resilient, representative, responsive and democratic institutions based on GE and respect for human rights are central to the mandate of the government and UN agencies to promote gender-responsive and equally inclusive governance institutions. In 2022, capacities of national gender equality mechanism and public administration were strengthened to monitor and report progress achieved towards commitments on GEWE. Five Gender Mainstreaming Guidance Notes (on justice, anti-corruption, DRR, ICT, health and digitalization) were prepared to ensure close alignment with the EU’s legal and policy framework on GE. Assessment is also being conducted into the existing bottlenecks in monitoring and reporting of SDGs 5.a.1 and 5.a.2. The UN provided technical support on gender mainstreaming to the draft NSDEI and national strategies for Youth 2022–2029 and Employment and Skills 2023–2030.

Shaping and building resilient, representative, responsive and democratic institutions based on Gender Equality

Read the full results of output 4.4/4.5 - Gender Equality Mechanisms/Leadership and Participation

Shaping and building resilient, representative, responsive and democratic institutions based on GE and respect for human rights are central to the mandate of the government and UN agencies to promote gender-responsive and equally inclusive governance institutions. In 2022, capacities of national gender equality mechanism and public administration were strengthened to monitor and report progress achieved towards commitments on GEWE. Five Gender Mainstreaming Guidance Notes (on justice, anti-corruption, DRR, ICT, health and digitalization) were prepared to ensure close alignment with the EU’s legal and policy framework on GE. Assessment is also being conducted into the existing bottlenecks in monitoring and reporting of SDGs 5.a.1 and 5.a.2. The UN provided technical support on gender mainstreaming to the draft NSDEI and national strategies for Youth 2022–2029 and Employment and Skills 2023–2030.

More than 28 government professionals increased their knowledge and skills on mainstreaming GE goals into strategies, policies, sectoral programmes and the EU integration process through an introductory workshop on Gender Mainstreaming and the technical roundtable ‘Gender Mainstreaming Guidance in the EU accession context: DRR, climate change, and civil emergencies’. Five municipalities (Durres, Elbasan, Gramsh, Gjirokaster and Tirane) developed and adopted costed Local Gender Action Plans (LGAPs) 2022–2024 and 160 representatives from these municipalities were enabled to prepare LGAPs through eight workshops. Meanwhile, Lushnje Municipality signed the European Charter for Equality between women and men in local life. Four Gender-Sensitive Value Chain (GSVC) analyses were developed to support women’s economic inclusion and empowerment in four selected municipalities (AUs of Farke, Labinot-Mal and Lunxheri, and Gramsh Municipality). With the aim of providing employment opportunities and higher income, 180 women were identified whose skills were strengthened in farming, processing, food safety, standards, artisanal products and market presentation. Partnering with CSOs, 46 young boys and girls in Durres, Pogradec and Shkoder were engaged to promote women and girls’ empowerment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through inspiring women in STEM models, aiming at addressing discrimination, violence and promoting women and girls’ empowerment in non-traditional areas though the use of innovative tools in storytelling techniques using digital multimedia production.

Results in Numbers

335

Coordinated Referral Mechanism Members

and more than 1,300 service providers were capacitated to provide non-disruptive and accessible support services to DV survivors, including long-term socio-economic reintegration, victims of trafficking, violence and harassment in the workplace in a coordinated manner and the implementation of legislation on DV during emergencies and crisis situations.

1,900

Women Survivors

of violence and more than 350 children identified as at high risk of abuse were able to escape violence, benefit from psycho-social and legal support and reintegrate economically.

200,000

People

reached through several campaigns, including ‘How to be safe and create a safe online environment for children and the youth', the 16 days of Activism to end violence against women,'Tjetër herë me vajzë' campaign, which addressed gender-biased sex selection, and Rural Women’s Day, which engaged government, academia, the private sector and faith-based institutions.

90

Women

from marginalized communities enhanced understanding and information on protection mechanisms, by receiving smartphones equipped with the BrightSky application and digital literacy training.

28+

Government professionals

increased their knowledge and skills on mainstreaming GE goals into strategies, policies, sectoral programmes and the EU integration process through an introductory workshop on Gender Mainstreaming and the technical roundtable 'Gender Mainstreaming Guidance in the EU accession context: DRR, climate change and civil emergencies'.

180

Women

were identified whose skills were strengthened in farming, processing, food safety, standards, artisanal products and market presentation, with the aim of providing employment opportunities and higher income.