Albania- Domestic Abuse helpline numbers, and etc.

To report or domestic violence or get help call:

Tiranë (04) 2233408

Shkodër (022) 44022

Rrëshen (0216) 22233

Vlorë (033) 28048

Berat (032) 31004

POLICE 129

Organizations That Work to Help Stop Domestic Abuse:

ALBANIA                                                      Forum of Albanian Women

Ana Aid Norway/Albania                                 Valentina Duca
Kati Kozara                                                     Albania
Rruga Kent Urani 17                                       Fax: 00355 42 420 28
Tirana, Albania
Network Of East-West Women                     Socialist Women's Forum          

Rr. Myslym Shryi                                              Rr. Myslym Shryi
Pall 53, ap. 7                                                   Pall 53, ap. 7
Tirana, Albania                                                Tirana, Albania
Tel: 355-42-23408                                         Tel: 355-42-23408
Fax: 355-42-27415                                         Fax: 355-42-27415

Women's Information & Documentation Center (WIDC)

P.O. Box 2418

 Posta Quendrore
Tirana, Albania
Tel/fax: +355 42 23693
 E-mail: qirjaku@women-center.tirana.al                                                            

Women's Association, Reflexion ClubRr. Brigada VIII, No. 7  

Tirana, Albania 

Tel: 355-42-28323   

Fax: 355-42-34223

The Network Against Gender-Based Violence & Trafficking website links:

http://www.stopdhunes.com/eng/    ßIn English

http://www.stopdhunes.com/   ß  In Albanian

Albania- Facts and laws on Domestic Violence

• 1 in 3 Albanian women are victims of domestic violence,
• In 2007, the police received 274 reports of domestic violence. 
• In 2009, 993 cases were reported by September.
• 11 women killed because of domestic violence in 2010
• In Tirana’s largest prison, 90% of the women were charged for murdering their husbands
• Useful to Albanian Women(UAQ)  helps 12 women per week with counseling.
• The centers get 6 to 8 calls per week  from women victims wanting help.
• The Forensics Institute in Tirana receives about 2 abuse cases every 24 hours, in order to help the police in abuse cases by determining the type of injury.

The Domestic Violence Law  made a way to provide victims of family violence with a protection order, which may be granted by a civil court on the petition of a victim of such violence. The court must hear the petition within 15 days. There is also a provision for emergency (“immediate”) protection orders to be issued within 48 hours by a court, if the abuser presents a “direct and immediate threat to the security, health or well-being” of the victim. The court must hold a further session within 20 days to decide whether to prolong or terminate the order.

A protection order can include the following measures:

• The removal of the perpetrator from the house inhabited by the victim (regardless of the perpetrator’s property rights) 
• Prohibiting the perpetrator from approaching within a certain distance of the victim or other family members 
•  Prohibiting the abuser from entering or staying in the temporary or permanent residence of the victim, or any part thereof, 
• Placing women together with children in temporary shelters 
• Ordering the abuser to participate in rehabilitation programmes. 
• Violation of a protection order is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or up to two years’ imprisonment.

Courts are required to: 

Send copies of a protection order, including emergency protection orders – within 24 hours of issue – to the victim, the police and social services.

Network Against Gender-Based Violence and Trafficking created a pilot referral system Berat, Pogradec, Shkodër, Rrëshen and Vlorë.  In just over a 1 yr period 91% of the women/girls in these 5 areas were referred to the right organization. ( Sept. '08- Dec. '09)

      The “Councils against Domestic Violence” includes government representatives, police, district prosecutors, court officials, health and education organizations, employment offices, and NGOs, who also provide training to relevant professionals. 

Sources:http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR11/001/2010/en/f22a5393-9099-488a-8049-2a8e34d8ed9e/eur110012010en.pdf

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/05/12/feature-03

 http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/albanian-women-deserve-justice-2010-03-25