In a report prepared for the US Department of State’s 2024 Human Rights Report, Aleanca LGBT has shed light on the persistent challenges that the Albanian LGBTI+ community currently faces. The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, also known as the Human Rights Reports, cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements.
Despite legislative progress since 2001, ongoing discrimination, limited rights for same-sex couples, and rising anti-LGBTI sentiment underscore a significant gap in protections for LGBTI individuals in the country.
The report reveals an absence of legal recognition for same-sex partnerships under Albania’s Family Code, despite a constitutional right to marriage. This legal vacuum denies same-sex couples access to essential rights, including those related to inheritance, visitation, and family support. The submission further highlights that employment discrimination is widespread, with nearly 36% of LGBTI individuals never having been formally employed, and 34% of those working experiencing workplace harassment.
Key findings:
- 45% of the LGBTI respondents personally experienced violence or discrimination in 2024.
- Currently, no law recognizes partnership or cohabitation between persons of the same sex, in violation of constitutional guarantees.
- 40.8% of surveyed LGBTI respondents are neither currently nor have ever been engaged in formal employment contracts.
- 15.6% of surveyed LGBTI respondents have taken up informal employment.
- 34% of those employed reported experiencing harassment and prejudice in the workplace due to their LGBTI status.
Aleanca LGBT also expressed concern over a disturbing increase in hate speech and violence directed at LGBTI individuals, often spearheaded by influential political and religious figures. Though a law on protection from discrimination exists, its enforcement remains inadequate, with only one favorable ruling in four cases filed with the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination over the past year.
Finally, the report notes an emerging threat to freedom of expression: Aleanca’s Executive Director was summoned by police following a complaint that alleged the organization’s logo disrespected national symbols. This development, says Aleanca, highlights the precarious position of LGBTI advocacy in a socially conservative environment.
Aleanca’s report calls for intensified efforts from Albanian authorities and international organizations to ensure greater alignment with European Union standards and to establish comprehensive protections for the LGBTI community across all domains of Albanian public life.
The comprehensive Human Rights Report is expected to be published in Spring 2025. Stay tuned as we share more updates here on our website.