Tirana has hosted for the first time high-level officials from Europe and Central Asia at the International Conference “Effective institutional mechanisms for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment: Shaping the future 30 years after Beijing,” organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the UN Women’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.
In her speech, Albana Koçiu, the Minister of Health and Social Protection stated that the Albanian government is fully committed to the vision laid out in Beijing 30 years ago. Koçiu emphasized that significant challenge regarding gender equality still exist, highlighting the importance of swift action to close the gender gap and ensure the protection of women in all aspects.
“The World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2024 report notes that none of the 190 countries studied has achieved full legal equality for women, even in the wealthiest countries. Women still enjoy only 64% of the legal rights of men, and globally they still earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. Closing this gap would increase global GDP by more than 20%, and even more in some regions,” said Koçiu.
Focusing on the situation in Ukraine and other countries, Minister Koçiu noted that more than 600 million women live in conflict-affected regions, while many others face threats to their rights.
“This is why the time for action is now, and why we need to renew our collective commitment to the Beijing Agenda +30. Albania is fully committed to this vision,” she said.
Furthermore, Minister Koçiu emphasized that Albania has established a strong legal framework for the promotion, implementation and monitoring of gender equality and non-discrimination.
“Efforts to improve women’s access to justice, highlighted by the Law on State-Guaranteed Legal Aid, have created an institutional network that provides free legal aid. Significant progress has been made in political representation, with 55% of ministerial posts held by women, placing Albania among the top 10 countries in the world in this regard. Women’s participation in politics, business, and traditionally male-dominated sectors, including defense and diplomacy, has steadily increased,” Koçiu emphasized.
Regarding the measures taken to combat violence against women, Koçiu said, “Our efforts have been threefold: increasing penalties by revising the penal code, creating and supporting social services in every municipality, and conducting national information and awareness campaigns.
The Minister went on to say that, Albania has always been a strong advocate for gender equality in multilateral efforts, both globally and regionally. “As a non-permanent member of the Security Council, we have consistently supported the women, peace and security agenda. We are currently members of the Human Rights Council, where gender equality remains an absolute priority,” she added.
“With the renewal of our commitment to Beijing +30, we strongly believe in the possibility of making a lasting change that will ensure that the next generation enjoys all the benefits of full gender equality,” concluded Albana Koçiu, Minister of Health and Social Protection.
Other speakers at the International Conference on Gender Equality included Belen Sanz Luque, UN Women’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, as well as ministers and high-level officials from the Council of Europe, Spain, Canada, Georgia, Tajikistan, Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The event, which marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global plan for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, discussed strategies for strengthening institutional mechanisms to promote gender equality, building partnerships and sharing effective practices.
Adopted in 1995, the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) is considered a foundational agenda for women’s empowerment that is globally recognized as a prerequisite for achieving gender equality, development and peace.