In Albania in 2026, there is often talk of gender equality and the creation of protective mechanisms against violence against girls and women. In practice, the situation is different and gender-based violence against girls and women with disabilities remains less discussed.
They remain in an invisible space between violence and the lack of access to institutions where it should be denounced.
In a survey conducted by the Foundation "Together" In Tirana, Dibër and Vlora, it is noted that the systems built to protect girls and women with disabilities are insufficient, inaccessible, uncoordinated and physically unsuitable.
According to Suela Lala, director of the foundation, the selection of three cities was made to create a panorama of the situation from the north to the south of the country.
In Tirana, 48 institutions that are part of the chain of response to gender-based violence were observed, such as the State Police, the prosecution, courts, health centers, shelters, free legal aid centers, and municipalities.
According to the report by the "Together" Foundation, none of these institutions is fully accessible: 35.4% are partially accessible, while 64.6% are inaccessible.
"In some institutions, isolated elements of accessibility were found, such as entrance ramps, but other components were missing, such as toilets adapted for people with disabilities, reserved and signalized parking, tactile orienting elements, elevators and counters at accessible heights," the report states.
The monitoring also includes access to communication and information, including communication through online platforms. According to the report, accessibility to information and communication in the Municipality of Tirana remains sporadic and not standardized.
"Only 20.8% of the monitored institutions provide a minimum of access to communication and information, but very basic, while 79.2% do not provide any form of accessible information or communication," the report points out.
These deficiencies are related to the lack of Braille materials, audio versions, visual instructions, sign language interpretation, as well as the lack of contrast and appropriate text size.
According to Suela Lala, one of the main obstacles is the fact that violence often fails to be identified as such, while another problem is related to the dependence of people with disabilities on the people who care for them.
"The issue of personal assistants remains problematic. Payments are minimal and people with disabilities often survive thanks to the support of family members, while violence in many cases comes precisely from the people closest to them," Lala told Citizens.al.
According to her, even shelters for abused women and girls lack access for women with disabilities.
“In reporting violence against women with disabilities, they are invisible precisely because of these barriers, which are found throughout the chain of institutions and in the way our society is organized,” Lala added.
The report also highlights the lack of staff capacity in these institutions. None of the (48) institutions had conducted training on this category or on gender-based violence against persons with disabilities during the last year.
According to him, institutions such as the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (CPD), the National Information Society Agency (NAISA), the Social Security Institute (SSII) and the National Employment Service (NES) provide mainly technical information, not in plain language or in alternative formats, such as video or audio materials.
"The Police, Prosecution and Courts rely mainly on verbal communication, but without providing real access to information and communication for people with disabilities," the report states.
According to Lala, in some cases, the lack of access to shelters for abused women has meant that women with disabilities cannot be placed in 24- or 48-hour emergency centers.
Community Centers are mentioned as positive examples. "Gonzhe Bojaxhi", multidisciplinary center "Let's stay together" and the Center for Persons with Disabilities in Shkoza, which have a better level of accessibility to information and communication.
According to Lala, in most institutions, at best there is only one entrance ramp.
"There are no other accessibility elements within buildings or in other services. If Tirana presents a somewhat better situation in terms of physical accessibility, in Vlora and Dibër the problem is even more pronounced," she argues.
Access to Debar, minimal
Of the 15 institutions monitored in Debar, none were found to be fully accessible. 26.7% are partially accessible, while 73.3% are inaccessible.
"The Dibër Judicial District Court is completely inaccessible, with high stairs and no entrance ramp. The State Police, DRSSH, the regional hospital and the health center have entrance ramps, but without other supporting elements of accessibility," the report states.
As for access to information and communication, it is almost non-existent.
"Institutions do not offer Braille materials, audio materials, visual formats, interpretation in sign language or plain language, while there is a lack of directional signage adapted for people with disabilities," the report cites.
Also, staff capacities remain limited and without specific training.
"They do not have the capacity to treat a woman with disabilities properly. This is also shown by the fact that they do not keep records of how many such cases are addressed and manage to get out of the situation of violence," Lala told Citizens.al.
According to her, violence against women with disabilities is three to four times higher than against other women.
Access to Vlora, limited
Of the 31 institutions monitored in Vlora, 19.4% were found to be partially accessible, while 80.6% were inaccessible. None of them were fully accessible.
"Even in cases where partial elements of accessibility exist, essential components are missing, including adapted toilets, elevators to upper floors, and tactile elements for orientation of visually impaired people," the report notes.
According to him, no accessible communication and information materials were identified in any of the monitored institutions.
"Staff has not received training in inclusive communication and does not possess knowledge about providing tailored information," the report points out.
The "Together" Foundation recommends taking measures to improve physical infrastructure, adapt information materials to accessible formats, and increase the capacities of staff in institutions that are part of the gender-based violence reporting chain.
Read also:
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Erisa Kryeziu has completed higher studies in Journalism and Communication and Master of Science in Public Relations at the University of Tirana. She has been a journalist and project manager at Citizens.al for five years, where she reports on social issues and human rights, especially on issues of rights at work, in education, gender equality, marginalized groups, people with disabilities such as and for environmental issues. At the same time, she works as a project coordinator with a focus on youth and media education. User of new reporting techniques such as "Mobile Journalism" and citizen engagement tools in reporting (ECR-Engage Citizens Journalism).
