Violence continues to be a daily occurrence for women in Albania, taking extreme forms, even leading to loss of life. According to data from the Ombudsman, compiled in 2024 with the support of UN Women, 37 girls and women were killed during the period 2021-2024, while 27 of these cases were classified as “femicide,” so murder because of gender.
The findings are part of the analysis of “Observatory on Femicide,” a monitoring mechanism established in 2024 with the support of UN Women, which analyzes cases of extreme violence against women and girls in the country.
However, despite the increased institutional attention, the term “femicide" is still not defined in the Albanian Criminal Code, making it more difficult to formally recognize gender motives in judicial proceedings.
18 cases of extreme violence in 2024 alone
During 2024, the Observatory analyzed 18 cases of extreme violence against women and girls. These cases include not only murders, but also other forms of violence that can lead to fatal consequences.
Of these cases, 5 were murders of women, while only 3 of them were classified as femicide. Two of the victims were killed by their husbands, while one case involved the murder of a woman by her neighbor.
According to data from the Observatory for Femicide, in 13 out of 18 cases reviewed, the victims had previously experienced violence from the perpetrator.
"Confirming that lethal violence is often an escalation of previously known abuse," it is stated in the data processed by the Observatory.
Of these 18 cases, in 5 cases the victims had sought help from the police.
"None of the victims were under active protection measures at the time of the crime," emphasize the data.
19 perpetrators have been identified for these cases, of whom 17 were boys or men, while 7 of them had previous criminal records.
According to the Observatory's data, the victims were mothers of 33 children, including 9 minors.
"More than half of the incidents (56%) occurred in rural areas, highlighting the broader social consequences of extreme violence against women," it is stated in the data collected by the Observatory.
According to UN Women, in a roundtable held for International Women's Day, these findings highlight significant gaps in early risk identification, prevention and institutional response to violence against women.
"This data shows that laws alone are not enough. Protection orders must be implemented consistently, risks must be assessed early, and institutions must work together to prevent the escalation of violence," UN Women emphasizes in a public statement.
Institutional deficiencies and legal protection
The report highlights several ongoing weaknesses in the institutional response to gender-based violence.
“The lack of clear legal recognition of femicide continues to limit the formal recognition of gender-related motives within judicial proceedings. In some cases, prior violence was recognized by institutions, yet no active protective measures were taken prior to the event,” the report states.
According to the report, delayed identification of risk, poor implementation and monitoring of protective measures, as well as insufficient coordination between the police, courts, prosecution, and social and health services are some of the main factors leading to institutional inaction against gender-based violence.
At a joint roundtable organized by UN Women in the framework of International Women's Day, with representatives of responsible institutions, a call was made to guarantee that women and girls have full access to justice.
"Despite all the progress made as a result of justice reform, women continue to face barriers when seeking justice in cases related to gender-based violence, marriage dissolution, child support, property, and other aspects," UN Women's response states.
According to the organization, high legal and transportation costs, as well as family care responsibilities, limit their ability to seek and obtain legal solutions.
"Courts and legal aid centers are often concentrated in urban areas, making it more difficult for women in rural areas to access them," says the statement of UN Women in Albania.
According to a 2025 monitoring report by the Center for Civic Legal Initiatives, 479 cases of domestic violence tried over the last three years in seven courts in the country were analyzed.
According to the report, 108 victims (22%) were represented by a lawyer, while 371 women participated in legal proceedings without legal representation.
"Only seven women received state-funded legal aid," the report points out.
In cases where women had legal representation, courts approved protection orders in every case.
According to UN Women, this shows that access to legal aid increases the likelihood of protection and that current procedures for free legal aid should respond to the urgent nature of domestic violence cases.
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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).
