Albania - Compliance with the Convention Against Torture - Women's Rights - October 2025
Country: Albania
Issues: Gender-Based Violence, Women's Rights
Mechanism: UN Committee Against Torture
Report Type: Shadow/Parallel Report
This report finds that Albania is not in compliance with its obligations under the Convention Against Torture, particularly regarding the treatment of women in detention and incarceration. Despite legal safeguards, law enforcement continues to commit abuses during arrest and detention, including arbitrary arrests, failure to inform people in detention of their rights, and the use of physical ill-treatment.
Women face systemic barriers to justice, including limited access to legal representation, lack of timely information about charges, and inadequate investigation of abuse. Poor detention conditions - including overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, and unpaid prison labor - further violate international standards and disproportionately harm women.
The report recommends that Albania: (1) ensure prompt access to legal counsel and medical
care; (2) improve detention conditions to meet international standards; (3) provide specialized
training for law enforcement; and (4) reduce the use of detention.
