OSCE Presence in Albania

Activities

Civil society and gender

The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth (l), and British Ambassador Fiona McIlwham listen to Anisa Proda, a blind young woman, addressing an event on promoting a disability youth initiative in Albania, organized by the OSCE Presence, the British Council and Vodafone Albania, Tirana, 19 January 2012. (OSCE/Joana Karapataqi)
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth (l), and British Ambassador Fiona McIlwham listen to Anisa Proda, a blind young woman, addressing an event on promoting a disability youth initiative in Albania, organized by the OSCE Presence, the British Council and Vodafone Albania, Tirana, 19 January 2012. (OSCE/Joana Karapataqi)

Civil society development

The Presence provides assistance to local civil society organizations in promoting democratic governance by supporting and organizing activities that encourage citizens to become more involved in decision-making. It supports the efforts of the national authorities and civil society in implementing the National Strategy on People with Disabilities and on the transparent use of public funds for the support of civil society.

The Presence has also supported local initiatives in Korca and Durres to promote civic engagement of youth in Albania through voluntarily contributing to community-based activities. The aim is to provide a sustainable local instrument for civic engagement that builds upon citizens’ voluntary contributions, their activism, inclusion, and local ownership of the process.

Together with international partners, the Presence supported the creation of a Youth Disability Forum to promote the participation of disabled youth in decision-making in Albania, increase the representation of disabled youth and facilitate their integration into Albanian society.

Gender

In order to promote women's participation in public life, a three-year project to enhance women's role in governance was carried out, building on the OSCE’s regional experience in supporting the efforts of state and non-state organizations to implement more-ambitious gender-equality objectives. It has helped the government implement the Gender Equality Law and the National Strategy on Gender Equality and against Domestic Violence, as well as inclusion of a gender quota in the revised Electoral Code. In addition, the Presence supports the National Council on Gender Equality as the state’s highest oversight and advisory body on gender equality.