As part of the winter school “Integration into the EU and the Role of Youth in this Process,” session #4 was held, focusing on the topic “Human Rights,” with a particular emphasis on the rights of women and girls, analyzing the Albanian context and the applicable laws in the European Union and Albania for the protection of these rights. The session was led by lecturer Deni Sanxhaku.
Deni Sanxhaku, an activist and advocate for human rights, was the lecturer for this session. She began the discussion with an overview of human rights and international laws protecting these rights, focusing on EU legislation and Albanian law. Human rights encompass a broad range of fundamental rights guaranteed to every individual, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status. These rights are recognized and protected by international agreements and are essential for ensuring dignity and freedom for every person. International and national laws aim to safeguard these rights and help prevent violations by providing mechanisms to protect individuals at risk.
A special focus was given to violence against women and girls, which is one of the most widespread and destructive violations of human rights. In 2023, 24 Albanian women were murdered, and in the first three months of 2024, 4 women fell victim to femicide (@countingdeadwomenalbania). These statistics are alarming and demonstrate that women and girls in Albania are not safe in the spaces where they live and work.
The discussion also centered on concepts such as patriarchy, gender norms and roles, misogyny, sexism, body positivity, and the importance of discussing and promoting feminism.
