Transcript Project Status

“Women Can Do It”
October 2006 - April 2007
Supported by: Norwegian People’s Aid
Implementing Organizations:
Independent Forum of the Albanian
Woman & Millennium Women Network
Background
 Hot political situations, from which
political forces try to benefit, and in
which democratic norms have not been
established yet.
 Different policies reinforcing gender
disparities from the way they address or
not addressed these issues in policies.
 Women’s status has been socially and
politically inching backwards & forwards
Women’s percentage in the
parliament and local level

In the general elections of 2005: 7.1 %
female representation in the parliament
compared to 5.7 % in 2001.

In the local elections of 2007: 1.5 %
female mayors in municipalities, 27.27 % in
municipalities and 1 % commune mayors
compared to 0 % in municipalities, 27.27 %
in municipalities and 1.5 % in communes in
2003.
 3 % of female registered candidates in 2007
compared to 4.3 % in 2003.
 10-15 % of female party membership in
2005/2006 compared to 40 % in 1997.

27.5 % of the members with a voting
right in the Voting Central Commissions in
2007 compared to 8% in 2001

3 % of representatives of both political
subjects and candidates in these
commissions were females.

68 % of observes coming from civil
society during the local elections of 2007
were females.
National Gender Equality
Mechanisms
Parliamentarian sub commission for
minors and equal opportunities is made up
of 7 members, a chairperson, a deputy
chair person, a secretary and four members
 In 1997 - 2001, a sub commission for youth
and gender equality.
 In 2001 – 2005, the sub commission for
gender Equality.
 In 2005-2009, the sub commission for
minors and equal opportunities.
The Department of equal
opportunity policies
It is made up of 3 specialists on gender
equality, technical secretariat of the National
Council for disabeld people concerns, the
chair of the sector and 2 specialists.
Mission
Design/develop policies that promote equality
regarding gender equality, equality/inequality,
ethincs minorities’concerns etc. It aims to
promote gender equality and women’s
participation in economic, political and social
life.
Responsibilities
 Propose initiatives and make analysis
regarding equal opportunities in the process of
development.
 Observe the implementation of agreements and
international acts on the fileds it covers.
 Formulate policies for equal opportunities from
gender
prospective
and
human
rights
protection for vulnerable categories, cooperate
with active non profit organizations and
financially support some of their activities.
Legislation regarding women
 Article 18 of the Constitution prohibits
discrimination due to gender and provides
constitutional legal guarantees for equality.
 According to Albanian legislation both sexes
enjoy equal treatment in the constitutional
right.
 In addition to the Constitution, international
agreements (already ratified), are considered
the second best legal resources.
 Gender equality law since 2004.
Direct project beneficiaries
 310 training participants (IFAW)
 245 participants (MWN)
- Local Government/Communities
- Government institutions
- Youth from High Schools and Universities
- Youth Cultural Centers
- Women’s NGOs
- Women Candidates in the local elections and
potential women
- Local branches of political parties, Women’s
Political Forums
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Millennium
 Encourage media increase its contribution to

gender parity in the governance.
 Empower elected women through capacity building.
IFAW
- Raise women’s awareness as well as the political
environment for the quota 30% in the future elections
- Promote positive coverage by the media on gender
issues and women leadership
- Stimulate a positive social attitude towards women’s
leadership among the public in general
PROJECT ACTIVITIES - Millennium
 Activities
a) 2 two day training courses of journalists coming from the
private and public media of Tirana and other cities of
the country
b) 8 two day training seminars of women candidates and
municipality council members
 Actions
a)
b)
3 TV talks shows
Competition among journalists for the best essay on
gender issues.
c) Monitoring of the media.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES – IFAW
Activities
 9 training seminars
Exchange Visit in Kosovo
Conference for Women in Leadership
Actions
-
TV debate
-
Trainings evaluation
- Project evaluation
OTHER RESULTS
 Analysis of current state of gender equality in the media and
its readiness for gender mainstreaming in its programs.
 The growing presence of women in leading/key positions of
local governance in the media and their contribution to the
visibility of women’s issues in it.
 Education and capacity building of the media regarding
gender issues, and the integration of these issues in their
programs.
 The increase of the women’s interest in politics.
 The improvement of women’s image in the media.
 The increase in number of women in local government
councils.
RECOMMNEDTIONS
 1) Change of the electoral system, quota bill included.
 2) Enhancing participation of women in development
through mediatic enabling environment
3) Collection of gender information and gender
statistical data.
4) Introduction of this information and data in the web
page / other electronic communication means
5) Lobbying and advocating for the involvement of gender
equality in the mandatory curricula, etc.
6) National actions on community’ bases.