Empowerment of vulnerable citizens in relation to access to justice Start date: 1 march 2017 – End date: 28 Febbruary 2018
Expand and improving the access to justice for disadvantaged individuals and groups such as Roma, women, children, disabled people, victims of trafficking and violence, LGBTI, etc.
The objectives:
Information and educational activities through diverse communication channels and methods (face-to-face and audio-visual) with different target groups that AWEN member organization work with.
Monitoring of the implementation of the legal framework and assessing the obstacles of access to justice, in order to identify the problems relating to the special needs of disadvantaged groups.
Advocating for the completion and improvement of the legal framework in order to address the main issues regarding the special needs of disadvantaged groups through meetings with implementing and decision-making institutions as well as international institutions.
Advocating on gender equality and EU integration processes
Total amount applied for EUR, 37,563
This project aims to address the above mentioned needs by focusing on EU advocacy initiatives for women human rights,in line with EU guidelines and policy. This will be achieved by addressing the lack of information on EU role in enhancing gender equality in Albania through public information on adopted EU policy and legislation on women human rights;public awareness raisin gon the key importance of the EU role in the country’s development and women human rights advancementin Albania; and advocating with EU entities, as well as with governmental structures on the advancement of women human rights as per EU policy requirements. In addition, the project aims at enhancing the role of the Albanian Women Empowerment Network and its members (AWEN) to become one of the key stake holders in EU advocacy initiatives for women human rights in Albania.
The project was implemented by AWEN in close partnership withits 9 member organizationsin 8 different regions of Albania. AWEN will also closely cooperate with the following partner organizations:
- EC Delegation in Tirana
- Network members and other women CSOs and their networks in Albania
Protection and promotion of women rights in Albania
Project funding in EUR: 984 600, 00 EUR in total
Summary of the project: On behalf of this project, through the work done by our member organizations in 8 different regions of Albania, as well as through AWEN’s advocacy efforts, vulnerable women and girls, especially DV & trafficking victims are better protected and assisted, especially in some areas where new services have been introduced and new protection mechanism establishment has been facilitated. During the first two years of implementation, AWEN has been an increasingly important actor in the women human rights field, concerning multiple components of women’s rights area, like protection of vulnerable women through different services offered by AWEN member organizations; awareness raising at national and local level of the wide public on women human rights; promotion of positive models of success; lobbying and advocacy for the rights of DV & trafficking victims in several areas (services, housing, employment, etc) through inputs at several draft laws and strategies. Furthermore, AWEN has further consolidated its image and role as an important civil society actor in women’s rights protection and promotion. Collaboration and interaction has been intensified with International entities as well as with central and local public institutions. At large, AWEN as a network organization has increasingly served as a forum for experience sharing, platform for advocacy and a legitimate “hub” for capacity development of it member organizations.
Programme objective (outcome): To increase the role and contribution of women civil society organizations for the proper implementation of policies and legislation on women rights in Albania.
Output 1. National and local governments are increasingly promoting and protecting women´s right.
Inputs to improve legislation and policies at central and local level/ Advocacy efforts: Research Study on Intimate Partner Violence among adolescents – During 2018, the selected team of researchers, in close collaboration with AWEN programme staff and AWEN member organizations conducted and finalized the research study. Findings are being used to feed awareness raising and advocacy efforts.
Awareness raising events: Awareness raising efforts of AWEN focused mainly in two key periods: Women’s Month (March) and during 16 Days of Activism against Gender based Violence (national campaigns). At least 13919 girls and women, men and boys (target over-achieved) are better informed regarding violations of women human rights by participating in awareness raising events/activities of AWEN and AWEN member organizations during 2016-2018.
On-going advocacy and lobbying relating to implementation of the current legislation and policies for gender equality and their improvement – Official Inputs and recommendations (developed, integrated, consolidated and presented/sent) – GREVIO, CEDAW, EC Delegation, DG near Brussels and European MPs, MHSP, Municipalities, Parliamentary Commissions, Ministries; Open Letters to institutions: Public, media, policy makers,
Output 2. AWEN members are enabled to carry out projects and initiatives for the protection of women human rights.
34 projects implemented with the financial support of Sidaduring 2016-2018 (25 projects and 8 initiatives relating to emerging watch dog and advocacy);
A total of 4433 girls and women have been directly assisted (accommodation, rehabilitation, re-integration, legal aid, social and psychological counseling, etc.) through service delivery by network members – Target over-achieved.
A total of 2489 local stakeholders have been involved during through the advocacy initiatives and meetings with the members of National Referral and Coordination Mechanism by the projects implemented with the Sida financial support – Target over- achieved.
Advocacy initiatives from members’ projects have succeeded(local authorities have acted on recommendations – Emergency shelter in Dibra established; 5 new referral Mechanisms established in 4 Administrative Units; Meal for children attending the kindergarten is ensured in Spitalla area, as result of the lobbying meetings with the Women’ Alliance.
100 % of the local advocacy initiatives (6 advocacy grants) have been successfully implemented.
Output 3. AWEN members are viable and sustainable organizations and have the capacity to contribute to the promotion of women human rights.
Organizational Development: Monitoring systems established and functional at 9 member organizations; 9 functional and improved policies and procedures (AWEN and 8 members); Strategic plans revised/developed (AWEN and 8 members); Achieved
Increase in the number of collaborators and stakeholders:# of stakeholders and collaborators increased by at least 30% cumulatively (the outreached stakeholders’ number has been over-achieved – target 20%)
Increase in the number of target groups and beneficiariesby at least 30% during these three years (over-achieved – target 10%)).
At least 1 new areas of expertise added by each member;Achieved; Agritra (psychological service); Me, the Woman (psychological and legal services); CLGW (national hotline); Jona (establishment of new referral mechanisms + psychological and legal services); Woman to Woman – establishment of new Referral Mechanisms + creation of local change agent groups; Woman’s Forum Elbasan – collaboration with health staff) ; Agritra Vision – Emergency Sheltering services; AWSP – mobile psychosocial support for DV cases in local units;
Protection and promotion of women rights in Albania
Budget: 1,162,403.41 Eur
This new proposed programme is conceptualized as a continuation of the ongoing interventions and efforts during these three years (2016-2018), while being based on AWEN’s overall strategic objective for 2019-2021 that states ‘Women human rights are increasingly protected, promoted and respected in Albania’ and the three strategic outcomes for the strategic period 2018-2021. The designing of the strategic approaches and outcomes for the upcoming phase, has been also fed by some key lessons learnt during these three years.
Overall objective: Women human rights are increasingly protected, promoted and respected in Albania.
Specific objectives:
- Contribute to improvement and implementation of policies and legal framework from duty bearers for protection and promotion of women human rights.
- Strengthening of institutional/ organizational capacities of AWEN and its members in becoming more democratic, accountable, independent, sustainable and capable to promote and protect women human rights.
- Protection and empowerment of vulnerable groups of girls and women, with a special focus on gender based violence and trafficking survivors.
Theory of change
First, advocacy and lobbying initiatives at local, national and international level focusing on national policies and legislation to be in place and implemented , public institutions that increasingly fulfil their obligations as per national and international legislation, increased accountability and functioning monitoring systems, will contributetoimprovement and implementationofpolicies and legal frameworkfromdutybearersforprotection and promotionofwomen human rights.
Second, institutional development and organizational strengthening capacity building efforts, like mentoring and technical assistance to AWEN members in further organizational development, besides ongoing professional capacity building interventions for AWEN and its members, will contribute to AWEN and members becoming more democratic, accountable, independent, sustainable and capable to promote and protect women human rights.
Third, the support to AWEN members to offer specialized support services and carry sensitizing, advocacy and capacity building initiatives to protect and enhance women human rights at local level, will result in at least 4000 girls and women benefitting from the package of services, increasingly more capable local stakeholders in adressing women human right issues and a community that is inceasingly supportive and reactive towrds women human rights. These interventions will lead to protection and empowerment of vulnerable groups of girls and women, with a special focus on gender based violence and trafficking survivors.
The ultimate change that we seek to achieve is that women human rights in Albania are increasingly protected, promoted and respected.
Building capacities of CSOs to monitor the implementation of activities related to reduction of gender-based violence and domestic violence of the National Strategy and Action Plan on Gender Equality 2016-2020, under the Regional Programme “Ending Violence against Women: Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”
Total Budget: 4.595.650 ALL
Objective: To create an enabling legislative and policy environment in line with international standards on eliminating violence against women and all forms of discrimination
Partnerships: The direct project partner for this initiative will be AWEN – Albanian Women Empowerment Network, part of which is also GADC. The other member organizations of AWEN that operate at local level are: “Association of Women and Girls with Social Problems”, Durres; “Me, the Woman”, Pogradec; “Agritra Vision”, Peshkopi; “Woman to Woman”, Shkoder “Woman’s Forum”, Elbasan; “The Psycho – Social Centre “Vatra”, Vlora; “Jona” association, Sarande; “Counseling Line for Girls and Women”, Tirana.
Wherever geographically relevant, some of the member organizations of AWEN will be involved in the implementation of some of the components of this intervention.
This project will also closely cooperate with other partner organizations and institutions:
- The Municipalities (and their administrative units) where the project is focused, especially the members of the National Referral Mechanism;
- The newly formed relevant ministries that cover the socio-economic aspects for the implementation of NSGE 2016-2020. (priory covered by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth);
- CSOs at local and central level involved in gender based violence and domestic violence work.
Protection and promotion of women rights issues through interventions in 7 districts in Albania
Overall objective
Empower local women through actively promoting women rights by actively engaging young girls and women as change agents in the targeted areas.
The project objectives were:
- To actively promote women human rights at local level, with a special focus on less outreached areas namely Ulёz, Divjakё, Krujё-Fushё Krujё, Lezhё;
- To increase societal awareness on women rights as human rights.
The project aimed at a comprehensive intervention mainly at local level in the target areas – Ulёz, Divjakё, Krujё-FushёKrujё and Lezhё, and also at national level contributed to empowerment of women through advancement of their human rights and eradication of gender based violence.
The project contributed to empowerment of women in the targeted regions and promotionof women human rights, especially the rights of women victims of domestic violence.
Wave
Timeline: February – October 2019
Budget: 11.500 Eur
The goal of the project is to strengthen women’s voices and agency, including of women’s organizations working with and representing women from disadvantaged groups, at a regional level. The expected result is to therefore strengthen capacities of women’s organizations’ platforms and or networks as a vehicle to support women’s civic engagement in CEDAW and Istanbul Convention monitoring and reporting.
Albania Environmental services project:Implementation of the consultancy on the assignment “Implementation of Gender Action Plan (GAP)”.
The objectives of the Assignment: Implementation of Gender Action Plan (GAP) (2nd Contract) are two-fold:
- South and Central region: get increased access for women to decision-making in FPUAs in South and Central of Albania, improve women and young people’s possibilities to access grants foreseen in the ESP and increase the awareness of the positive results of gender equality at relevant decision-making bodies, such as LGUs
- North region: Provide follow-up support to the FPUAs and women in the North of Albania where a GAP activity was carried out in 2015-17.
In the frame of this consultancy, a basic baseline/needs assessment upon which the work can be planned in more detail for the South and Central region (based on the experience and approach used for the North Region) will be conducted. The baseline will include information about social and economic position, awareness situation, and access to decision-making of women in the targeted areas. The baseline/needs assessment will not overlap with the overall ESP social baseline provided, but it will contribute in developing the needed methodology of intervention and will make the needed adjustments if work is not reaching results as expected. This consultancy also includes awareness raising activities for girls and women and young people on gender,and capacity building on organizational development and internal functioning of organizations.
Project “Lobbying and advocacy for women‘ empowerment issues“, November 2015 – December 2016
This has been achieved by addressing the lack of information on EU role in enhancing gender equality in Albania through public information on adopted EU policy and legislation on women human rights; public awareness raising on the key importance of the EU role in the country’s development and women human rights advancement in Albania; and advocating with EU entities, as well as with governmental structures on the advancement of women human rights as per EU policy requirements.
In addition, the project aimed at enhancing the role of the Albanian Women Empowerment Network (A WEN) to become one of the key stakeholders in EU advocacy initiatives for women human rights in Albania.
3 Year Programme “Protection and Promotion of women rights“ supported by Sida, January 2016 – December 2018
- Lobbying and advocacy to national and local governments to increasingly promoting and protecting women’s rights
- AWEN members will be enabled to carry out projects and initiatives for the protection of women rights through financial support and technical assistance
- AWEN members will be provided with capacity building to contribute to the promotion and protection of women human rights.
Project “Protection and Promotion of women rights“ supported by Sida, May – November 2015.
Projekti “Mbrojtja dhe Promovimi i të Drejtave të Grave nëpërmjet ndërhyrjeve në 7 rrethe të Shqipërisë”, i financuar nga Ambasada Amerikane në Tiranë, Shtator 2014 – Korrik 2015.
Projekti “Fuqizimi i Rrjetit AWEN, fuqizimi i lëvizjes së grave në Shqipëri dhe promovimi i të drejtave të grave”, financuar nga Kvinna till Kvinna, Janar – Tetor 2014.
Projekti “Fuqizimi i grave pёr pjesëmarrje në vendimmarrje dhe jetën politike në tetë rrethe të ndryshme të Shqipërisë, si ndryshim kyç për një zhvillim demokratik”, i mbështetur nga Fondi i Grave të Mesdheut, Janar-Qershor 2013.
Project “Empowerment of AWEN to promote women’s rights in Albania”, funded by Kvinna till Kvinna, implemented in the period January-December 2013.
Project “Empowerment of AWEN Network to promote women’s rights in Albania”, funded by Kvinna till Kvinna, January-December 2012.
Project: “Creation of AWEN network, promotion of women’s rights in Albania”, funded by the Swedish Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, January-December 2011.
Through this project AWEN’s structure was created and completed with necessary staff and experts; legal registration of network was done in the Court. To achieve the latter several network meetings were organized and was prepared all the necessary documentation: statute of the association, the regulation, application for registration, etc. Today the network has its staff and office that directly influence the strengthening of the network. AWEN became a visible network; AWEN has functioned as a watch-dog for the rights of women in Albania through monitoring of the progress report on CEDAW; AWEN members in cooperation with the experts have prepared a monitoring report on the implementation of CEDAW in Albania.