Upon request of Russian authorities (Interpol NCB Moscow), Russian citizen I.K. was declared internationally wanted because the Moscow court issued the remand measure of arrest in prison, on 18.02.2022, because the citizen is suspected of committing a criminal act. Russian citizen I.K. appears to have been arrested on 27.08.2023, by the Shkodra Loc...
The Inclusion of Foreigners in the Western Balkans – Access to Social and Economic Rights (FOSTER) project, with the support of the European Union’s Civil Society Facility and Media Programme, is announcing a formal call for project proposals for regional grants to strengthen social and economic rights for vulnerable foreigners in the Western Balka...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), pursuant to its mission, has become familiar with the complaint of a journalist whose anonymity it is obliged to respect. Based on this complaint and the data that AHC possesses from its activity, such as the case of the interruption of labor relations of some employees of the Albanian Radio...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) became aware through the media about serious acts of violence on Prof. Sokol Mëngjesi, lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana, and at the same time a lawyer by profession. These acts occurred as he was getting out of the kindergarten where he had taken his child, in...
In recent days, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) became familiar with Annual Reports presented to the Assembly of the Republic by the Special Structure against Corruption and Organize Crime (SPAK) and the General Prosecutor about the situation of criminality in the country. Upon completion of the process since about two years, AHC considers th...
To the Government of Albania! A group of civil society organizations and human rights activists, after being informed with the fact of the signature of a “Protocol” between Albania and Italy, on the use of Albanian territory for the creation of areas intended for the reception and holding of asylum-seeking refugees1, protocol signed in ...
By decision 102/2023, the Assembly extended by six months the mandate for the activity of the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Realization of Electoral Reform, which expires on March 21, 2024. The responsibility of the Committee is to address the recommendations that have not yet been implemented from OSCE/ODIHR missions, decisions of the Con...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) together with 31 local, regional, and european organizations, submitted on 17.12.2023 to the Constitutional Court (CC), an amicus curiae in the interest of the constitutional review of the Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Italy and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania (RA) “On s...
ON THE PROTOCOL BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF MIGRATION Introduction In the beginning of November 2023, the media made public news of the signing of the Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Italy...
Victory for the Civic Sector and Organizational Freedom The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) in partnership with the organizations Civil Rights Defender (Tirana Branch), the Albanian Media Council, the Alliance against LGBT Discrimination and the Balkan Network for Investigative Journalism Albania – Balkans (BIRN Albania) invested the Consti...
Pursuant to its mission for respect for and protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) follows, verifies, and monitors their implementation, in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), the Constitution, domestic legislation, and other international documents that we adhere to or that re...
Some days ago, I.J. who is serving an imprisonment sentence at the Drenova prison addressed theAlbanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) with the following complaint:a) An unfair measure has been imposed on me. They imposed special supervision on me forthree months.b) They used handcuffs and chains to tie me to the bed for six days. I have...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee is engaged in contributing to the protection of the rights of media workers, respect for which is a guarantee for having a free and independent media. journalists enjoy not only the right to freedom of expression, but also the right to employment, proper working conditions, protection against censorship and self-cens...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) is implementing the initiative “Increasing the oversight role and citizens’ demands through the support of CSOs, media and academia”, financially supported by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and developed in cooperation with the Institute of Political Studies, Civic Re...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) strongly condemns the assault through numerous bullets toward national broadcaster Top Channel in the morning of March 27, 2023. This very dangerous mafioso assault has shocked and disturbed the entire public opinion and especially the community of journalists. Television and media in general as is known are ve...
Authorities react poorly and do not collaborate effectively For about four months, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has been monitoring the environmental pollution from hydrocarbon waste and the real and potential threat to the health and lives of inhabitants of the Zharrëz Administrative Unit, Patos Municipality, Fier County. Initially, on Oc...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) was informed through the media that citizen E. Sheshi, a detainee in IEPD 313, due ot his health condition, was sent on 08.01.2023, to the Mother Teresa University Hospital Center (MTUHC), where he passed away. AHC conveys its sinecere condolences to the family of the deceased. Taking into consideration the...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) condemns the act of violence, in the rally of December 6, 2022, exerted upon the Member of the Parliament of Albania Mr. Sali Berisha, former President and former Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania. The person who committed this criminal offense was identified and the Prosecution Office at the...
MAIN FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS On the monitoring of the judicial administrative process on Security the lawsuit “On closing the activity of the Private Pre-university Education Institution, Kindergarten “Zubeyde Hanim” (Tirana) Pursuant to its mission, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) monitored the judicial administrative process at the Adminis...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee, based on media reports from 20.10.2022 about 32-year-old man L.K. that indicated that he had been accompanied to the Police Commissariat no. 3 in Tirana and then had been sent to the Trauma Hospital where his death was announced, deemed it necessary to verify this data on site. At Police Commissariat...
Media access to obtain information and convey it to the broad public is of a special importance. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has formulated a group of principles and rules that grant media a special status. The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) paid special attention to becoming familiar with the new Regulations of the...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), pursuant to its mission, monitored the judicial administrative process at the Administrative Court of First Instance, for securing the lawsuit requested by the Gulistan Foundation, regarding the closing of the Mehmet Akif Ersoy College (private pre-university education institution). Today, on October 7, 2022, ...
Procedures of authorities to close down “Mehmet Akif Ersoy” Turkish College do not meet the standards of due process, resulting in the issuance of a harsh, hasty, disproportionate measure with harmful consequences After the complaint by lecturers and students of the Private Pre-University Educational Institution “Mehmet Akif Ersoy” regarding the cl...
In the afternoon of May 5, 2022, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), based on media reports on the self-hanging in the Kavajë Commissariat of young man Ilvi Meta, sent a team of observers to verify on site this painful and tragic incident. Based on the verification, the following resulted: On May 4, based on an...
Avoid Formal Consultations in Parliament Minister of Justice Should Publicly Apologize to Non-Governmental Organizations The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) appreciates the initiatives of Parliamentary Committees that, pursuant to article 36 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure and the important function of Parliament for parliamentary oversigh...
From the moment the preliminary evaluation of the new judicial map was discussed, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) drew attention to the lack of an objective, comprehensive, and inclusive study of the drastic reduction of the number of courts in the country. Twenty days ago, the High Judicial Council, by decision no. 211, approved the...
A group of Albanian civil society organizations, which are independent, non-government, and have a mission to protect and respect fundamental human rights and freedoms, condemn harshly, with pain, and indignation the brutal, military, planned, and treacherous Russian assault against the independent Republic of Ukraine. In these grave and difficult ...
In the situation of disturbing vacancies created in our judicial system and to fulfill the objectives envisaged in the new legislation of the justice system, the group of civil society organizations that signed this public statement appreciates in principle, as a very important process, the reorganization of courts and their territorial competencie...
On the occasion of Anti-Corruption day, on 9th of December 2021, Albanian Helsinki Committee consulted in a technical roundtable with the actors of justice system and representatives of civic society, the key findings and recommendations resulted from a professional, independent and constructive analysis of the activity of two Councils and courts w...
Civil society expresses its concern about the process of approval by the Assembly of Albania of ten draft laws linked with the justice reform package. The Assembly approved in its latest plenary session ten draft laws, in violation of procedures according to articles 26, 27, and 28 of the of the Assembly Rules of Procedure,...
CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF VOTERS’ ID CARDS The media has reported several times that a considerable number of Albanian citizens, although the validity of their identification cards has expired, have not sought to renew them. TheAlbanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) does not possess official data on what the number of Albania...
Official notification of voters in their places of residence is a legal requirement, according to article 52 of the Electoral Code Pursuant to its mission, the Albanian Helsinki Committee, conducted during October 21-26, 2020, an observation in 11 local government units of Tirana in order to find out on site whether the voters’ lists had...
As is known, the exercise of the right to elect and be elected represents a fundamental right sanctioned in the constitution and in international acts ratified by our country. This is why the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), pursuant to its mission has been engaged continuously in the monitoring of parliamentary and local government elections, si...
With their letter of February 5, 2020, a group of civil society organizations addressed the Speaker of the Assembly to convey their preliminary reactions regarding the normative act with the power of a law no. 1, dated, 31.01.2020 “On preventive measures in the context of strengthening the fight agianst terror, organized crime, serious crimes, and...
A group of civil society organizations, pursuant to their earlier reactions, upon becoming familiar with the draft law “On some additions and amendments to the law no. 108/2014 “On State Police,” submitted by the Council of Ministers to the Assembly of the Republic of Albania, published on the official website of the Assembly (part of...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), based on complaints from inhabitants of the Spitallë area (Durrës Municipality) that as a result of the dumping of fishing waste to the drainage canal in the area, environmental pollution in their area being beyond any limit, foul smell (particularly in the summer) had become unberable thus affecting their hea...
We are just a few months away from the June 30, 2019, elections for local government bodies. In the Assembly of Albania, the majority has submitted a draft for some amendments to the Electoral Code in force, while the Speaker of Parliament of Albania, in a meeting with reporters, referring to this draft, said that...
Tirana, December 13, 2018 – Civil Society Organisations in Albania through this public statement express their support to the student’s demand for the increase by 5% of GDP of the education budget in Albania. Albania invests only 3.3% of GDP on education, far from international and regional standards. This low investment rate undermines the r...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has monitored and continues to monitor the implementation of reform in the justice system and particularly the vetting process. In this regard, AHC has devoted special significance to transparency and the enforcement of access to information. On Feberuary 5, 2018, the Commissioner on the Right to Information an...
In recent days, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) carried out two monitoring missions in the Prison Hospital (SIPS – Special Institution for Prisoner Services), Tirana and the Zaharia Prison, Kruja. The purpose of the monitoring missions was to observe on site respect for the rights of persons with mental health problems, placed in these instit...
Yesterday, May 8, 2018, a team of the Albanian Helsinki Committee conducted monitoring at the Dibra police commissariat in order to look on site at respect for the rights and freedoms of arrested, detained and accompanied persons. In fact, we did not find any. Being there, we verified the premises (rooms) where the arrested,...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has appreciated and appreciates positively the initiatives that have been undertaken and the legislation that is being implemented in order to guarantee the integrity, empowerment and independence of justice system bodies. However, corruption is not isolated. It is quite widespread. Many cases of corruption hav...
According to reports in the media, the European Commission, through a report on Albania that it prepared, decided to recommend the unconditional opening of accession talks for Albania. The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) lauds this decision, hoping that it will mark another step forward in the respect for human rights and freedoms. This is a...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) expresses its concern about the fact that although today, April 13, 2018, the 6-month mandate of the Special Parliamentary Commission on Electoral Reform ends, there is no information on whether consensus has been reached on any important issue that has been addressed or whether work has begun on writing the...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has followed the protest of Kukës inhabitants to express their dissatisfaction on the fee for maintaining the Nation’s Road. This right, according to article 1 of the Law “On rallies” is limited only when national security, public safety, protection of public order and prevention of crime, protection of health ...
On Wednesday, March 21, 2018, the first hearing session will be held for one of the subjects of the transitory evaluation (vetting) in the Palace of Congresses, i.e. for the broad public. The notification has been made by the Independent Qualification Commission (IQC), on its official website. Thus, the IQC has made possible transparency in...
By means of the print and broadcast media, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has been informed about the concern of a considerable number of citizens who complain that they have been removed unjustly from the economic welfare scheme. AHC does not prejudice how lawful and founded is this or that welfare scheme that has been...
On March 2, 2018, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) monitored respect for the rights of convicted and detained persons with mental health problems at the Zaharia Prison (Kruja) as well as of persons who, by court ruling, should have been placed in specialized institutions for compulsory medication. Based on our monitoring, it results that in...
Based on media reports, we have been informed that there will be no amnesty this year. This is an exclusive competence of the Assembly. However, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) deems it necessary to highlight the intent of the amnesty, referring to international standards as well as amnesty laws approved by the Assembly of the...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), based on a signal it received that violence was exerted on a convict at the IEPD Peqin on 04.10.2017, conducted a verification on site, whereby it resulted that on 30.09.2017, around 22:30, the group on duty of Prison Police carried out an inspection for prohibited items at the High Security...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), with support from the Open Society Foundation Albania, is engaged in monitoring one of the most important processes of justice reform, that of vetting. On August 9, 2017, AHC submitted a request for information to institutions that collaborate with vetting bodies for the evaluation of assets, the control of th...
On September 20, 2017, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) monitored the special meeting of the Higher Education Institutions (HEI) for the selection of candidates for members of the High Judicial Council (HJC) and the High Prosecutorial Council (HPC). During the monitoring, we found that representatives from the HEI and the School of Magistrates...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), spurred by the information provided in newspaper “Panorama” of September 11, 2017, headline “The isolated child is not given the ‘besa’ to receive education in the village,” which talks about 24 children isolated in the District of Shkodra (for 15 of which plans are to provide education at home), deems...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee supports and lauds the investigation of the “Fiks Fare” show on food safety. AHC deems it necessary to emphasize the fact that it is not the first time that food products have resulted out of standards, but is of the opinion that this issue has not been pursued to the end....
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) learned with profound pain, from the print media, about the murder of judge Fildes Hafizi, as well as the background, conditions and circumstances of this incident. On this occasion, we convey to the family and all relatives of the victim our sincere condolences. AHC condemns this barbaric act, an offense...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) appreciates and encourages efforts in the engagement for and intensification of the coordinated fight of the State Police against the production and trafficking of narcotics as well as cleaning up the infiltrated from police ranks. In consultation with citizens and in support of some partial data, AHC expresses...
The pages of daily newspaper “Shqiptarja.com” during August of this year have featured data about the assets of those subjects that, pursuant to law no. 9049, dated 10.06.2003 “On the declaration and audit of assets, financial liabilities of elected officials and some public servants (amended),” are obliged to declare their assets. The Albanian Hel...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has followed with attention the notifications in the media and that have been reflected in the relevant High State Audit (HSA), which talks about a series of denunciations by this independent constitutional institution, about damages that have been caused to the state budget in very large amounts, in billions o...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has continuously monitored the respect for the rights of inmates and detainees. Based on the findings and conclusions of such monitoring, AHC has provided suggestions on how to improve the situation and in, certain instances, has also reacted publicly. For AHC, it is disturbing that within a relatively short ti...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has followed the discussion and debate in the Tirana Municipal Council regarding the increase in water price tariffs. AHC may not analyze, assess or reach a conclusion on whether it is necessary to increase the price of water. The resolution of this issue, in our opinion, requires a study of...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) partially monitored the electoral process on the voting day and continues to monitor the vote counting process for the parliamentary elections of June 25, 2017. A total of 160 observers accredited by the CEC conducted the monitoring, which extended over 11 ZEACs and 154 voting centers in 9 districts of...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) expresses its appreciation for the positive work of the CEC pursuant to the Electoral Code. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has worked intensively and is seriously engaged to resolve some important problems. Nevertheless, we express our concern that based not only on information from the Albanian Helsinki...
According to notifications by observers of the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), the voting process continues in the VCCs that they are monitoring. Preliminary monitoring data highlight that the voting process has been generally calm, while some irregularities have been found in procedures followed by electoral administration bodies at the local l...
Today, on May 17, the international day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) makes a public appeal for better respect for the rights and freedoms that the LGBTI community enjoys in our country. Citizens belonging to this community face a series of problems that impede the effective and full exercise of...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee, in partnership with the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, the association “Together for Life” and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, during 2017 and 2018 will implement in Albania the project “Civil society countering violent extremism.” The overall objective of the pr...
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day for the purpose of increasing awareness about the importance of enjoying and exercising this right and to remind governments of their duty to repsect and protect freedom of expression, guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to Freedom...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) followed with concern the video footage published by investigative show “Fiks Fare” of Top Channel television. The footage showed the disturbing pollution caused by the burning of limestone furnaces in the villages of Borizana and Nikël of Kruja. A few weeks ago, AHC observers conducted verifications in ...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) is monitoring important aspects that have to do with the smooth conduct of the pre-electoral process in the context of the parliamentary elections that will be held in the country on June 18 of this year. Through the media, we have been informed that there are political parties that...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), appreciating and supporting the U.S. Department of State’s Human Rights Report on Albania for 2016, calls for reflection and effective solutions for human rights problems highlighted in this report. According to the DOS report, the most important problems that infringe upon human rights in Albania, have...
Today, on March 7, 2017, as every year, the teacher’s day is celebrated, the day devote to the educating personnel of schools and personalities. While part of this personnel enjoys integrity and works with dedication, professionalism and does quality work, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) notes with regret that the pre-university education sys...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), as an independent non-governmental organization, expresses its concern about the recent events in Macedonia. The President of Macedonia refused to grant a mandate to the head of the opposition for the formation of the new government. He tried to justify this with calls of nationalistic hatred toward the Albani...
The “Justice for All” Coalition believes that what citizens are looking for are concrete actions and a clearly expressed willingness by all the political forces and the constitutional institutions, in order to achieve an effective implementation of the justice reform and to conduct free and fair elections. Without these two very crucial reforms for...
Today, on February 27, 2017, representatives of the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) met with inhabitants of the Zharrëz village, in Patos Municipality. These inhabitants have started for some days now a rally and have walked toward Tirana, settling in front of the Ministry of Energy and Industry. For some time now, Zharrëz inhabitants have compla...
Based on media reports as well as some complaints by inhabitants of the villages of Borizana and Kadias of Kruja, regarding the continuation of limestone furnace burning continuing, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) conducted a verification mission on site. AHC met with elected representatives, inhabitants of the area, owners of companies and, ...
According to media reports of February 18, 2017, a 23-year old, detainee with the initials N.L., committed suicide in the Institution for the Execution of Penal Decisions on the “Mine Peza” street (Prison 302). The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), spurred by this painful incident, expresses its concern that two other such incidents have taken pla...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), stemming from yesterday’s statement by the Prosecutor General toward the Ambassador of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Lu, observes with regret that this communication is neither appropriate nor healthy for the implementation of reforms in our country. AHC considers that the Prosecutor General, and an...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) appreciates the special importance that the conduct of the parliamentary elections of June 18, 2017 has, particularly after the approval of considerable amendments in the framework of justice reform, whose implementation has just begun. The main goal is for these elections to be free, fair and democratic and th...
In these activities gave their contribution Mrs. Erida Skëndaj, AHC Executive Director, Mr. Niazi Jaho, Legal Advisor at the AHC, Mrs.Etilda Saliu, Expert. Nearly 70 students and professors of the University “Ismail Qemali” and nearly 30 representatives of the justice system and civil society active in Vlora, contributed actively in dis...
The associations Together for Life and the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) appreciate the decision rendered by the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination with regard to children suffering from Leukemia. The decision comes after a request submitted by both organizations, in August 2016, for carrying out an administrative ex-offi...
How would you as part of the Albanian Helsinki Committee evaluate the mission of this organization since its foundation in 1990 being the first to be established for monitoring respect of human rights and freedoms in Albania? The establishment of the first non-profit organization on December 16, 1990, initially labeled as the Forum for the...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) is preparing the annual report with regard to the situation of respect for human rights and freedoms in our country during 2016. Based on an annual tradition, we decided to inform you in this press conference in a concise manner about some of the main findings and issues of this...
According to media reports, the prosecutor’s office has initiated criminal proceedings on the judge who issued the “Protection Order” in favor of citizen Liljana Rukaj who was murdered by her husband. First of all, AHC expresses its sincere condolences to the family members and relatives of the victim for such a painful and tragic murder...
Honorable Members of Parliament, This is not the first time that the Albanian Helsinki Committee has called for avoiding hate speech in plenary sessions. AHC has reacted publicly about this issue, convinced that it would find the support of broader public opinion. Given that hate speech recently has intensified and has turned into a disturbing...
On October 28, 2016, observers of the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) carried out a monitoring mission in the Institution for the Execution of Penal Decision in Fier. During the monitoring, we found that convict A.G. had been subjected to a disciplinary measure of exclusion from all joint activities for 20 days, based on article 53,...
We, members of the Civic Solidarity Platform1, strongly condemn a violent attack in Sofia against Krassimir Kanev, one of the most prominent human right defenders in Europe and the chair of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC). BHC is the largest human rights organisation in Bulgaria and a member of our network. We express our solidarity...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) studied and analyzed the progress of criminal referrals filed by the High State Audit for 2014 with the two prosecutor’s offices of the country’s largest judicial districts, Tirana and Durrës. The initiative received financial assistance from the United States Embassy’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee and the “Together for Life” association first of all extend sincere condolences to the spouse, family members and relatives of the pregnant woman A.Ç., who died tragically in the “Koço Gliozheni” maternity hospital in Tirana.The prosecutor’s office began criminal prosecution immediately on the case as the body respon...
According to the announcement of the Central Election Commission (CEC) on 7th of September 2016 at “Nazmi Rushiti” school in Peshkopi, the elementary school in Maqellarë, the elementary school in Tomin Center and in the elementary school in Sohodoll, were not present in the training none of the member of VCC. CEC for this reason...
Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), as legal representative of the citizen sentenced to imprisonment F.Z, on 29.07.2016 has presented a request to the European Court for the Human Rights, for obtaining temporary measures, according to the Court Rule 39. Actually, this citizen is currently serving his imprisonment sentence at the IEPD Kruja and suffe...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) first of all conveys its sincere condolences to the family and relatives of victim Pëllumb Marnikollaj. AHC, based on international documents, article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights and relevant protocols, as well as the practice of the Strasbourg Court, when death because of based suspicions of m...
For a number of years now, the Albanian Helsinki Committee is monitoring and representing inmate F.Z., who is currently serving his imprisonment sentence at the IEPD Kruja. The convict suffers from major and bone nerve damages in his leg, atrophy and infections, as the result of the break of a metal pad installed in his...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) notes that the reported incidents in the Institutions for the Execution of Penal Decisions, Shën Koll and Vaqarr, have violated the safety of persons deprived of their liberty and of personnel taking care of these persons, in these institutions. Although the manner and the circumstances in which these incidents...
From July 8, 2016, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) called upon all members of the Assembly of Albania to approve the draft amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Albania for Reform of the Justice System, because it was primarily in the interest of Albania. We applaud the Assembly of Albania for finally reaching...
On June 22, 2016, the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) conducted a monitoring mission in the Institution for the Execution of Penal Decisions, Lezhë, to review some complaints received from convicts. The monitoring produced some problems and violations of rights, of which we think the following are worth mentioning: 1. The severe overcrowding situ...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) has followed in a consistent manner the issue of the treatment of citizens whom the court has remanded to a medical security measure of “compulsory medication in a medical institution,” according to article 46 of the Penal Code. These citizens, in violation of the law and of court rulings, for...
TV Klan’s “Stop” show of May 31, 2016, aired gruesome footage of the internal premises of the Development Center in Shkodra that treats persons with disabilities. The broadcasted footage of the inside of these premises feature some citizens tied in their hands or feet with locks and chains, fixated to a metal structure, on a...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), the first non-governmental organization founded in December 1990, hereby expresses its concern that the approval of reform of the justice system is being delayed. Our concern derives from the fact that we are an organization that, for over 25 years, has had and continues to have as its main mission...
Media of May 29, 2016, referring to a report of the General Directory of Prisons of April this year, noted from a statistical standpoint that of the 5769 persons who are kept in institutions for the execution of penal decisions (convictions), 2622 have been sentenced to imprisonment (159 of them to life imprisonment), 2979 are...
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) and the Children’s Rights Observatory became aware of a grave scandal that had taken place at the Children’s Residential Center in the Shkodër Municipality. Three minor female children who lived in the orphanage of the city were abused sexually. The Shkodër Judicial District Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pe...
According to article 145 of the Constitution, judges are independent and are only subject to the constitution and laws. Interfering with the activity of courts or judges leads to responsibilities that the law addresses. Decisions issued by courts may be undone or amended solely by the higher instances of the judicial system. The Albanian Helsinki...
