OSCE Presence in Albania brings together human rights institutions from Western Balkans

On the eve of International Human Rights Day, on 9 December 2021 the OSCE Presence in Albania organized a regional roundtable discussion for equality bodies and independent human rights institutions. Representatives from the Western Balkans discussed, in the hybrid-format meeting, their role and interactions with respect to judicial proceedings.

The event gave participants the opportunity to exchange best practices and experiences, and to strengthen regional co-operation. It served as a momentum to raise awareness about respective governments' obligations towards protection from discrimination and promotion of human right institutions' work.

"Independent human rights institutions are essential synapses to ensure the effective implementation of international human rights standards at the national level, to act as a bridge between the citizens and the State, protect those in need, and hold governments accountable for their human rights obligations," said Vincenzo Del Monaco, Head of OSCE Presence in Albania, at the opening of the event.

Albania's People's Advocate Erinda Ballanca said: "We, human rights institutions, should be a success story, because failure to succeed damages not only the authority and stability of our institutions, but also the very cause of human rights in general".

"Today's meeting is very important to know the competences of each other, to see what competences we have consolidated and how we can implement new ones in our realities", said Robert Gajda, Albania's Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination.

The Presence has been supporting independent human rights institutions in Albania since their establishment, and recently facilitated the signing of a co-operation agreement among them.