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COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONSIDERS REPORT OF ALBANIA
16 November 2006
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Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights 16 November 2006
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has considered the initial report of Albania on how that country implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Ferit Hoxha, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, said the Covenant entered into force with respect to his country on the eve of the immense transformation of Albania from the most brutal communist dictatorship to an open citizen-based society. Albania had changed tremendously. Its society had developed and the situation of human rights had improved incomparably. During more than a decade, while looking for its place to the future, Albania had gone through different moments of transition, including periods of instability and crises in the economic, political and social fields, which had understandably influenced its capacity to fully meet its obligations. Rebuilding a shattered country, giving hope to a whole depressed society, exploring all new paths, putting in place a new, educated and skilled administration, creating a completely new legal framework and putting it into practice, to mention but a few, had not been quite an easy task and sometimes delay was among the price one had to pay.
Among questions asked by Experts were such issues as whether policies of equal treatment and non-discrimination of citizens were designed; the impact of the traditional code against women and its effect on the respect of gender equality; if men and women received equal pay and the punitive measures to ensure implementation of the principles of equal pay; whether the trade unions had been transformed and their affiliation to international trade unions reinforced; whether prostitution was regularized by law and if trafficking for the purpose of prostitution was penalized; the conditions of abortion and its negative effect of popular use on the population growth; the situation of children in relation to the commission of crimes; the percentage of the State budget allocated to cultural activities; and if a law existed to protect the cultural heritage of the nation.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Hoxha said this was a useful exercise: human rights were a matter that required attention from the State and society, and progress was expected by all. This was the commitment of Albania, and the Government intended to carry out this progress. This initial report would surely be followed by other reports, and these would update and complete the vision of the human rights situation in Albania. The Chair and the Committee were thanked for the seriousness with which they had tackled the issue, and the useful comments that had been made. Albania looked forward to receiving the concluding observations, and would work to make sure that the implementation of the Covenant was in full compliance with its commitment in this regard.
The delegation also included representatives of the Permanent Mission of Albania to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, of Education and Science, of Justice, of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, of Labour, and of the Interior. The delegation spent three meetings over two days with the Committee Experts to present the report and answer questions.
The concluding observations of the Committee on the report of Albania will be issued towards the end of the session, which concludes on Friday, 24 November. The Committee will hold no more public sessions until that date.
Report of Albania
The initial report of Albania, contained in document E/190/5/Add.67, provides information on the State party’s efforts in implementing the provisions of the Covenant. It says that the principle of equality between men and women is an integral part of the Albanian legal system, laid down in the Constitution and domestic legislation. No one may be unjustly discriminated against for reasons such as gender, race, religion, ethnicity, language, political, religious or philosophical beliefs, economic condition, education, social status, or ancestry. Currently, State agencies or institutions through particular studies or projects on gender issues conducted research on gender issues. The research is mainly focused on specific issues related to women’s health care, education and labour.
According to the report, the fundamental measures undertaken by the Government of Albania comprise active and passive policies for the promotion of employment. One of the first programmes implemented in this regard by the employment offices was the programme of unemployment benefits. This programme constitutes part of labour market policies, which provide financial benefits to the recently unemployed. The active policies pursued and implemented by the offices consist of employment services, employment promotion programmes and vocational training.
With regard to poverty, the report notes that one quarter of the Albanian population is poor. Extreme poverty is present at less than 5 per cent of the population. Non-monetary dimensions of poverty are sharp. Rural access to infrastructure and services is very low, but also in urban areas the quality of these services decreases significantly the access level. Poverty is higher in rural areas, with 66 per cent more poor than in the capital city Tirana and 50 per cent more than in other urban areas.
Introduction of Report
FERIT HOXHA, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, said the Covenant entered into force with respect to his country on the eve of the immense transformation of Albania from the most brutal communist dictatorship to an open citizen-based society. Albania had changed tremendously. Its society had developed and the situation of human rights had improved incomparably. During more than a decade, while looking for its place to the future, Albania had gone through different moments of transition, including periods of instability and crises – like the political and social unrest during 1997 – in the economic, political and social fields, which had understandably influenced its capacity to fully meet its obligations. Rebuilding a shattered country, giving hope to a whole depressed society, exploring all new paths, putting in place a new educated and skilled administration, creating a completely new legal framework and putting it into practice, to mention but a few, had not been quite an easy task and sometimes delay was among the price one had to pay.
Mr. Hoxha said international law constituted a very important part of the legal system of his country. Albania had made numerous efforts to ensure the full exercise of the rights recognized by the Covenant by putting in place the necessary instruments, including through appropriate legislative measures. The Labour Code and the Gender Equality Act of 2004 provided that employers should render equal pay for work of equal value and were applicable to both the public and the private sectors. Labour legislation accorded special protective measures for pregnant and breastfeeding workers. Government financial support promoted women’s employment, in particular helping disadvantaged women find long-term employment. Those included victims of trafficking, Roma women and girls, the disabled and divorced women with social problems. Further measures were expected during 2007 to promote equal participation for men and women in the decision-making process, to appropriately address and hopefully reduce acts of violence and trafficking, averting the gender stereotypes in society.
Mr. Hoxha further said that in terms of the right to the proper living standards in Albania, a series of precautions had been taken. National and international bodies had been involved to ensure the appropriate address to that important aspect. A close cooperation of central and local government bodies with the World Food Programme had provided food aid to specific groups of the population having difficulties with food access. Various Albanian Ministries, in cooperation with UNICEF, had put in place a promotional programme.
The Secretary-General of the Albanian Foreign Ministry concluded by saying that in view of the implementation of the right to physical and mental health, the Albanian Ministry of Health had been and was playing an important role. It had taken various special precautions and had launched five specific national strategies, designed to ensure an appropriate physical and mental care system. In particular, the national strategy for the prevention of the HIV/AIDS incidence in Albania put special focus to raise awareness against infection of the population, particularly the youth, women, the vulnerable groups such as the intravenous users of drugs, the sex workers, the Roma population and the travellers. The results were very encouraging.
ENINA BALILI, Educational Expert at the Foreign Relations Department of the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science, said that in a broader context, Albania had laid the foundations of a market-based economy, created democratic institutions and gradually built capacity in the public administration since economic and political transition in the early 1990s. Despite the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita reaching an estimated $ 2,580 in 2005, the Government was conscious that widespread poverty, high unemployment, wide regional disparities, and corruption remained daunting challenges.
On the other hand, Ms. Balili said, Albania had proceeded by attracting direct foreign investment, increasing public and private savings, through accelerating accumulation of physical and human capital, and by improving government structures. Eventual membership to the European Union remained an overreaching long-term vision in the country and the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement this summer was a hopeful step in the right direction.
Ms. Balili said the Government was aware that increasing public spending on education would contribute to improvement of the quality of education, especially for children coming from poor families and rural areas. As the participation in education was increasing, equality and equity remained key issues. Albania’s education outcomes were poor, particularly when measured against labour market needs and achievements in other countries in the region with which the country’s labour force needed to compete. As a consequence, relatively considerable differences over educational outcomes on economic, residential and cultural account remained a top concern.
Concluding, Ms. Balili said another important indicator of the Government’s strong commitment to education reform was the increased government budget in the education sector at over 5 per cent of GDP. In particular, a pledge had been made to almost double the salary of teachers. That promise had already been materialized with an increase of 26 per cent as of the budget year of 2005.
Questions Raised by Experts
In questions, Committee Experts addressed a range of issues, including the direct applicability of the Covenant and the possibility of invoking it before the courts, asking about the deficiencies in the implementation of the Covenant; the degree of independence of the human rights centre of Albania and if it was consulted in the preparation of the report; on the independence of the judiciary and its effectiveness; whether the Roma community had equal opportunities to social services; about the existence of corruption and political appointee judges; if the Ombudsman was monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Covenant; about the steps taken to implement the laws with regard to the Covenant; how the judiciary was protected from threats by organized crime organizations; about the kind of measures taken to protect judges form criminal gangs; the steps taken to protect the Greek minorities in Albania; about the measures and policies of the Government to protect its citizens living abroad from discrimination; the implementation of poverty reduction strategy in the rural areas; whether policies of equal treatment and non-discrimination of citizens were designed; the impact of the traditional code against women and its effect on the respect of gender equality; the measures taken to curb immigration and to protect the families of the immigrants; whether the Constitutional Court had rendered a law on economic, social and cultural rights null and void; the number of Egyptians in the country and their status; how the positive discrimination measure was implemented with regard to certain minority groups; why Albania failed to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; the effects of the massive migration on the economic, social and cultural aspects in the country; and the difference between linguistic and national minorities, among other things.
Response by Delegation
Responding to the various questions raised by the Committee Experts, Mr. Hoxha, said Albania had a problem with its judicial system and it was endeavouring to improve the system. The transformation of the system from communism to the current system was not yet completed. The level of the establishment of the judicial system still needed further reform. Further measures had to be taken on the accountability of the justice system. In the light of reports and inspections by the Ministry of Justice, a number of judges had been dismissed from their posts. The backlog of the older judges had impeded the implementation of full reform in the judicial system. In the context of resources and the political will of the Government, the justice system was being overhauled. The credibility of the judicial system was far from perfect and the situation would continue as such for the time being.
Other members of the Albanian delegation said that Albanian court verdicts referred to provisions of the Covenant and cases could be made available.
Women’s issue was part of the problem in the country because of the fact that they were deprived of their rights in the past. They were among those who enjoyed positive discrimination measures and they were provided with all opportunities, including parliamentary seats.
The Albanian Centre for Human Rights was created in 1992 and it was functioning as an independent non-governmental organization, the delegation said. A working group had been established to promote the reporting process of the State. Before 2001, submitting initial or periodic reports, which were required under Albanian international obligations, had been a problem. Upon the completion of the current initial report to the Committee, the Government had invited NGOs to participate in finalizing the text and provide their observations; however many did not show up.
The courts in Albania were independent from the other State political pillars and from the intervention by the Government, the delegation said. The Government had taken further measures to enhance the effectiveness of the judiciary by providing educational training to the magistrates and other judicial personnel. The professional capacity of the judges had also been raised while putting measures to combat corruption. The judges and prosecutors were appointed by the higher forum of judicial body in order to avoid the intervention of the political pillar. The Constitutional Court was closely involved in the selection of judges and procurators.
There were Greek, Macedonian and Montenegrin minorities, with the Greek population amounting to 35,820 or 1.2 per cent of the whole Albanian population, the delegation said; the number of Macedonians was 4,490 while the Montenegrins constituted only to 1,000. The Roma were considered a linguistic minority. The Government did not recognise the Egyptians as a minority group. The improvement of living conditions of the Roma community had been a priority of the Government. A Committee had been established with representatives of various minorities, with the aim of improving the conditions of those entities.
Albania had complete legal provisions for the respect and non-discrimination of minorities, the delegation said. Some reports of police mistreatment of minorities could be attributed to the nature of the police work. However, there had been cases of sanctions against police officers following investigations of complaints by an inter-departmental group by the Ministry of Justice and the police.
The Albanian authorities did not know the figure of Albanians migrants to many European countries; however a high number of them had settled in many countries, the delegation said. In Italy many of them had become permanently established following that Government’s decision to integrate foreigners residing on its soil. A high number of Albanians were also reported to live illegally abroad.
In 1991, Albania’s economic situation was that of a rural one. Now, it was being transformed through the implementation of major economic market economies, the delegation said. At present, the rural area was being deserted because of people’s exodus to urban areas and migration. The Government had enhanced its cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme and other international agencies in order to boost its economic and social conditions.
The national strategy for gender equality focused on empowering women in aspects within the society, the delegation said. They were encouraged to participate in all areas, including legislative representations, running their own enterprises and participating in decision-making.
Albania was a point of origin, transit and destination of trafficking in persons, the delegation said. The Government had adopted anti-trafficking laws and put in place measures to combat the phenomenon. The situation was now improving, thanks to police cooperation with countries of destination of trafficked persons. The trafficking of women was on top of the list of cases, constituting 90 per cent of the trafficked persons. The fight against organized crime pertaining to trafficking in persons had also intensified. A special institution on anti-trafficking in human beings had also been created to monitor the functions of other organizations dealing with the fight against trafficking and the implementation of the laws on the subject. Centres had been set up for victims of trafficking and returnees. Albania was a party to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, and its Additional Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
On customary law and its scope of application, the delegation said it was not part of the positive law of the country. The customary law had been discarded with the implementation of legislation and it might be used among some minor groups and in cases of interpersonal conflicts. Any form of customary law did not affect women. The canon law had no place in the modern Albanian legislation.
Questions by Experts
In follow-up questions, a number of Experts asked about the status of Roma communities and asked why they were classified as linguistic rather than an ethnic minority. The issue of the Egyptians living in Albania was also raised by the Experts who asked the delegation about the human rights obligation of the State towards those Egyptians. The Experts asked whether the Egyptians were enjoying the economic, social and cultural rights enshrined in the Covenant.
Response by Delegation
The Ombudsman could make recommendations to the Government on issues pertaining to the provisions of the Covenant, the delegation said. With regard to the rights of persons with disabilities, the delegation said all persons with disabilities had the right to get married and have children.
Albania had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and was considering ratifying its Optional Protocols. Albania was a party to the Additional Protocol 13 of the European Convention on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms concerning the death penalty.
The canon law did not intervene in the country’s legislation, the delegation said. There were, however, few exceptions with regard to inheritance in the northern part of the country, whose implementation might discriminate against girls.
The classification of minorities was made in accordance to the European Convention on Minorities, the delegation said. Whether a community was classified as ethnic or linguistic minority did not make a difference. The majority of minorities in Albania, particularly the estimated 90,000 Roma, were dispersed all over the country and did not occupy a specific territory.
Questions by Experts
Further questions were asked by the Committee Experts on issues pertaining to minimum wage and how it was indexed with regard to current price rates; they also asked if men and women received equal pay and the punitive measures to ensure implementation of the principles of equal pay; whether the trade unions had been transformed and their affiliation to international trade unions reinforced; cases of sexual harassment in the workplace; about the measures taken by the State to reduce the gap between rural and urban pensions; if Roma and Egyptians received unemployment benefits once they become unemployed; and whether the right to strike was extended to all sectors of workers, including the public sector, among other things.
Response by Delegation
Responding to the questions, the members of the delegation said that unemployment benefits were provided to all workers, and if a worker was unjustly dismissed, he or she would receive a full one-year salary. The principle of equal pay was enshrined in the labour code and there could not be any form of discrimination.
On the issue of the right to organize a strike, the delegation said the right to strike had been respected as part of the human rights of citizens. The right to join trade unions was recognized under the Albanian labour law. The number of women participating in trade unions was significant. The confederation of the Albanian trade unions was a member of the international federation of trade unions. The representatives of army, the police forces and the civil servants were not allowed to strike. However, they were allowed to participate in activities of professional trade unions. Civil servant could defend their rights through internal procedures.
There was no provision for the maintenance of minimum service in the event of a strike, the delegation said. Before a strike was called to order, a conciliation process could be initiated to settle labour conflicts and the Ministry of Labour was mandated to carry out the process.
Courts considered cases of sexual harassment in the workplace as sexual violence; however there was no specific legislation on the issue of sexual harassment, the delegation said.
The high rate of unemployment among the Roma community was a disturbing issue, the delegation said. The situation could be attributed to their low educational background and lack of training. The rate of unemployment for this segment of the population was around 90 per cent.
Asked whether Albania had ratified ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour, the delegation said Albania had ratified it in 2001.
The number of labour incidents had been decreasing each year, the delegation said, adding that in 2005, it was only 51 while in 2006, it was 34 cases.
Questions by Experts
In further questions, Experts asked, among other things, questions on domestic violence and the causes for it being widespread in the country; whether prostitution was regularized by law and if trafficking for the purpose of prostitution was penalized; the conditions of abortion and its negative effect of popular use on the population growth; the situation of children in relation to the commission of crimes; if education was obligatory and children were prevented from working at an early age; the reasons behind the reduction in the numbers of students in schools; the absence of legislation on the right to housing and the policy on enforced eviction, particularly with regard to Roma and the Egyptians; provision of housing subsidies for low-income citizens; the reasons why the State did not ratify the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on children involved in armed conflicts and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; whether judges and the police were trained to better deal with domestic violence; how health care was covered in the absence of health insurance; how the State was combating diseases such as syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases; if polygamy existed in the country; the effects of privatization of education and competition with public schools; the situation of family blood feuds preventing children from attending schools, particularly in northern Albania; the percentage of the State budget allocated to cultural activities; if a law existed to protect cultural heritages of the nation; and the meaning and the concept of the Pan-Albanian.
Response by Delegation
Responding to the questions, Mr. Hoxha said with regard to what happened to children who did not continue their education after the ninth grade, with the changes in the educational system, the age of the end of compulsory education was now 15, not 14. The number of children who continued their education was increasing. Children could also engage in some light professional activities, but the age for professional activity remained 16. On domestic violence committed against women and the young, the delegation said the Department of Equal Opportunities was reviewing the law on gender equality of 2004, and had been engaged in drafting a strategy on gender equality. The problems linked to domestic violence such as economic imbalance, had not been properly understood by Albanian society. Studies showed that it went beyond socio-economic limits, and had been under-reported. Parliament was expected to adopt a draft law on the phenomenon in the near future.
With regards to prostitution, the delegation said that in the Criminal Code there were several offences regarding this and trafficking in human beings. The phenomenon of prostitution was condemned, and everyone who exercised the profession was condemned by the Code, and there was a special provision regarding the exploitation of prostitution, including with aggravating circumstances. The Code also condemned the trafficking of children, women, and human beings. This group of criminal offences were included within the chapter of offences against moral and public dignity. There was also a provision on the illegal employment of minors which had recently been added to the Code. There were provisions with regards to the rape of minors, and there were currently 15 cases regarding minors between 14 and 18 before the Courts. There were also 23 cases of trafficking in women that had been reported so far this year, and no reports of child trafficking.
On health matters and issues relating to abortion, the delegation said there was a law on abortion adopted in 1995 which regulated abortion. Abortion was forbidden after 12 weeks. One of the measures which would be taken in the future was to increase respect of this law. There was currently no public report with regards to the figures of death due to abortion. Public health was a priority of the Ministry of Health, and it was increasing training activities and public health promotion strategies. A public health strategy for the next five years had been published in 2005. On poverty, extreme poverty did not necessarily correlate with income per capita, but the level of development did impact the level of poverty. In 2005, GDP per capita reached $ 2,580. On whether these developments had reached the most vulnerable groups of society, this was the case. Growth in consumption explained all the changes in poverty reduction needs. Nearly three quarters of the poor remained in rural areas. There had been sustained economic growth due to various Governmental projects and policies including expanding infrastructure and attracting investment.
On the right to housing, forced evictions were provided for in the law in the context of public expropriation, the delegation said. Subjects had the right to real compensation and to present their claim to the court. It was also only for public purposes such as building roads and schools that forced evictions could take place. On whether Albania intended to ratify two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the child, there were no obstacles to this, and the Government had begun the process with regards to the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Government had adopted special protection for children that was based on the ILO Convention on the worst forms of child labour, under which it was forbidden to employ minors under 16 years of age, and the working hours for minors was limited to six hours a day. There was a national programme and strategic plan on the elimination of child labour. Particular efforts were also made with regards to preventing child trafficking, including television advertisements and increasing funds for professional training and opportunities for victims.
With regards to work on gender equality, Mr. Hoxha said that work was being done on an inter-Ministerial framework. Gender related questions were of utmost importance, and the Government was aware of this. A specific institution with proper funding, a budget line and a Secretariat would have to be put in place, but concerns remained as to the Government’s ability to address this. It was difficult to have statistics on violence and marriage of minors, there was a legislative framework for the latter, but it was true that in some isolated areas this tradition was still very strong and had not yet been weeded out, and this was a signal to the Government to be very watchful of these phenomena. The age of marriage was normally 18 years of age the delegation said, and sexual relations with minors under 14 years was punished by the Criminal Code. Albanian legislation in the field of the rights of children had been adapted and was in full conformity with international conventions, and every person under 18 years was considered a child.
The Ministry of Education and Science was taking measures to cover as many students as possible, including home-schooled children, irrespective of their location and status. There were particular projects regarding Roma children, the delegation said. Psychological services were also offered to all students, including Roma children. Particular efforts were made with regards to children who had been isolated due to blood feuds. The Ministry had focussed its efforts with regards to the Roma in several ways, including the construction of schools where there were large groups of Roma children, and there was cooperation with various institutions working on Roma poverty in order to encourage children to attend school.
Concerning the situation of public health and trends in this regard, in particular in terms of prevention, HIV/AIDS infection and related strategies, and what the Government’s plans were in the future, the delegation said measures had been taken by the Ministry of Health on anti-smoking and HIV/AIDS. There was an anti-smoking law. Information on HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases was widely distributed. There were high numbers of those infected with syphilis and other sexually-transmitted diseases including Hepatitis. Trainings and other measures were being taken, such as encouraging the use of condoms among the young and those who were HIV-positive. There was also confidential HIV testing.
Polygamy was not allowed in Albania, Mr. Hoxha said, and there were no cases of it in the country. Education was guaranteed in the Constitution, the delegation said. On private education, there were a large number of private institutions in the pre-university system. Efforts were being made to counter the low standard of education provided at State schools. There were no official comparative studies in terms of students’ achievements in private and public schools. However, the tendency was for business interests to encroach upon quality of education in private schools. On whether teachers’ salaries were sufficient to live in Albania, they were indeed sufficient. Public university education was open to everyone, but the number of new students entering universities was based on quotas determined by the Ministry of Education, and was therefore limited. Students could attend different universities as per their application to these institutions and room in the quota. University attendance was free of charge. Students also had the choice of attending fee-paying Universities. A new law on higher education was being drafted, with the aim of giving more autonomy to the public universities. Work was being done to make the educational system compatible with Western countries, Mr. Hoxha said, and this implied a total re-working of the system.
The traditional patriarchal system was perpetuated in certain areas, Mr. Hoxha said, and feuds continued in certain areas, with impact on the situation of young children, in particular young boys. However, with regards to women, there was legislation protecting them in this context. This traditional behaviour remained somewhat problematic, and sentencing related to crimes was now
stiffer. There were also civil society initiatives towards solving these problems and towards eradicating the phenomenon. The National Development Council was developing a strategy to deal with feuding clans so that all activities could be properly coordinated. Funding from abroad was being sought to provide training to ensure that children involved in such conflicts received at least minimum education and to promote reconciliation.
Regarding the amount of the budget ear-marked for cultural promotion, Mr. Hoxha said this was more than 0.5 per cent of the total budget. The Ministry of Culture also worked to promote tourism. There was no general cultural law, but there was a framework with regards to museums and textbooks. There was no united strategy for cultural promotion, but many things were done to increase participation in cultural affairs by the general public such as festivals of different types. There was no role of religion in culture.
Concluding Remarks
FERIT HOXHA, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, in concluding remarks, said during the two days, comments, suggestions and questions had been heard, and the delegation had tried to respond to these. The delegation hoped that it had succeeded in this, and apologised for any missing or incomplete replies. A number of questions needed completion, and written answers would be sent or included in the next report. During introductory remarks, he had said that this was a useful exercise: human rights were a matter that required attention from the State and society, and progress was expected by all. This was the commitment of Albania, and the Government intended to carry out this progress. This first report would surely be followed by other reports, and these would update and complete the vision of the human rights situation in Albania. The Chair and the Committee were thanked for the seriousness with which they had tackled the issue, and the useful comments that had been made. Albania looked forward to receiving the concluding observations, and would work to make sure that the implementation of the Covenant was in full compliance with its commitment in this regard.
VIRGINIA BONOAN-DANDAN, Chairperson of the Committee, in concluding remarks, said the Committee looked forward to the second periodic report. In drafting the conclusions, details would be present to guide Albania in their implementation. Mr. Hoxha and the delegation were thanked for their replies, and the efforts made in coming up with answers. It was hoped the concluding observations would help to better the implementation of the Covenant in the State party.
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For use of the information media; not an official record
and Cultural Rights 16 November 2006
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has considered the initial report of Albania on how that country implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Ferit Hoxha, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, said the Covenant entered into force with respect to his country on the eve of the immense transformation of Albania from the most brutal communist dictatorship to an open citizen-based society. Albania had changed tremendously. Its society had developed and the situation of human rights had improved incomparably. During more than a decade, while looking for its place to the future, Albania had gone through different moments of transition, including periods of instability and crises in the economic, political and social fields, which had understandably influenced its capacity to fully meet its obligations. Rebuilding a shattered country, giving hope to a whole depressed society, exploring all new paths, putting in place a new, educated and skilled administration, creating a completely new legal framework and putting it into practice, to mention but a few, had not been quite an easy task and sometimes delay was among the price one had to pay.
Among questions asked by Experts were such issues as whether policies of equal treatment and non-discrimination of citizens were designed; the impact of the traditional code against women and its effect on the respect of gender equality; if men and women received equal pay and the punitive measures to ensure implementation of the principles of equal pay; whether the trade unions had been transformed and their affiliation to international trade unions reinforced; whether prostitution was regularized by law and if trafficking for the purpose of prostitution was penalized; the conditions of abortion and its negative effect of popular use on the population growth; the situation of children in relation to the commission of crimes; the percentage of the State budget allocated to cultural activities; and if a law existed to protect the cultural heritage of the nation.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Hoxha said this was a useful exercise: human rights were a matter that required attention from the State and society, and progress was expected by all. This was the commitment of Albania, and the Government intended to carry out this progress. This initial report would surely be followed by other reports, and these would update and complete the vision of the human rights situation in Albania. The Chair and the Committee were thanked for the seriousness with which they had tackled the issue, and the useful comments that had been made. Albania looked forward to receiving the concluding observations, and would work to make sure that the implementation of the Covenant was in full compliance with its commitment in this regard.
The delegation also included representatives of the Permanent Mission of Albania to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, of Education and Science, of Justice, of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, of Labour, and of the Interior. The delegation spent three meetings over two days with the Committee Experts to present the report and answer questions.
The concluding observations of the Committee on the report of Albania will be issued towards the end of the session, which concludes on Friday, 24 November. The Committee will hold no more public sessions until that date.
Report of Albania
The initial report of Albania, contained in document E/190/5/Add.67, provides information on the State party’s efforts in implementing the provisions of the Covenant. It says that the principle of equality between men and women is an integral part of the Albanian legal system, laid down in the Constitution and domestic legislation. No one may be unjustly discriminated against for reasons such as gender, race, religion, ethnicity, language, political, religious or philosophical beliefs, economic condition, education, social status, or ancestry. Currently, State agencies or institutions through particular studies or projects on gender issues conducted research on gender issues. The research is mainly focused on specific issues related to women’s health care, education and labour.
According to the report, the fundamental measures undertaken by the Government of Albania comprise active and passive policies for the promotion of employment. One of the first programmes implemented in this regard by the employment offices was the programme of unemployment benefits. This programme constitutes part of labour market policies, which provide financial benefits to the recently unemployed. The active policies pursued and implemented by the offices consist of employment services, employment promotion programmes and vocational training.
With regard to poverty, the report notes that one quarter of the Albanian population is poor. Extreme poverty is present at less than 5 per cent of the population. Non-monetary dimensions of poverty are sharp. Rural access to infrastructure and services is very low, but also in urban areas the quality of these services decreases significantly the access level. Poverty is higher in rural areas, with 66 per cent more poor than in the capital city Tirana and 50 per cent more than in other urban areas.
Introduction of Report
FERIT HOXHA, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, said the Covenant entered into force with respect to his country on the eve of the immense transformation of Albania from the most brutal communist dictatorship to an open citizen-based society. Albania had changed tremendously. Its society had developed and the situation of human rights had improved incomparably. During more than a decade, while looking for its place to the future, Albania had gone through different moments of transition, including periods of instability and crises – like the political and social unrest during 1997 – in the economic, political and social fields, which had understandably influenced its capacity to fully meet its obligations. Rebuilding a shattered country, giving hope to a whole depressed society, exploring all new paths, putting in place a new educated and skilled administration, creating a completely new legal framework and putting it into practice, to mention but a few, had not been quite an easy task and sometimes delay was among the price one had to pay.
Mr. Hoxha said international law constituted a very important part of the legal system of his country. Albania had made numerous efforts to ensure the full exercise of the rights recognized by the Covenant by putting in place the necessary instruments, including through appropriate legislative measures. The Labour Code and the Gender Equality Act of 2004 provided that employers should render equal pay for work of equal value and were applicable to both the public and the private sectors. Labour legislation accorded special protective measures for pregnant and breastfeeding workers. Government financial support promoted women’s employment, in particular helping disadvantaged women find long-term employment. Those included victims of trafficking, Roma women and girls, the disabled and divorced women with social problems. Further measures were expected during 2007 to promote equal participation for men and women in the decision-making process, to appropriately address and hopefully reduce acts of violence and trafficking, averting the gender stereotypes in society.
Mr. Hoxha further said that in terms of the right to the proper living standards in Albania, a series of precautions had been taken. National and international bodies had been involved to ensure the appropriate address to that important aspect. A close cooperation of central and local government bodies with the World Food Programme had provided food aid to specific groups of the population having difficulties with food access. Various Albanian Ministries, in cooperation with UNICEF, had put in place a promotional programme.
The Secretary-General of the Albanian Foreign Ministry concluded by saying that in view of the implementation of the right to physical and mental health, the Albanian Ministry of Health had been and was playing an important role. It had taken various special precautions and had launched five specific national strategies, designed to ensure an appropriate physical and mental care system. In particular, the national strategy for the prevention of the HIV/AIDS incidence in Albania put special focus to raise awareness against infection of the population, particularly the youth, women, the vulnerable groups such as the intravenous users of drugs, the sex workers, the Roma population and the travellers. The results were very encouraging.
ENINA BALILI, Educational Expert at the Foreign Relations Department of the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science, said that in a broader context, Albania had laid the foundations of a market-based economy, created democratic institutions and gradually built capacity in the public administration since economic and political transition in the early 1990s. Despite the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita reaching an estimated $ 2,580 in 2005, the Government was conscious that widespread poverty, high unemployment, wide regional disparities, and corruption remained daunting challenges.
On the other hand, Ms. Balili said, Albania had proceeded by attracting direct foreign investment, increasing public and private savings, through accelerating accumulation of physical and human capital, and by improving government structures. Eventual membership to the European Union remained an overreaching long-term vision in the country and the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement this summer was a hopeful step in the right direction.
Ms. Balili said the Government was aware that increasing public spending on education would contribute to improvement of the quality of education, especially for children coming from poor families and rural areas. As the participation in education was increasing, equality and equity remained key issues. Albania’s education outcomes were poor, particularly when measured against labour market needs and achievements in other countries in the region with which the country’s labour force needed to compete. As a consequence, relatively considerable differences over educational outcomes on economic, residential and cultural account remained a top concern.
Concluding, Ms. Balili said another important indicator of the Government’s strong commitment to education reform was the increased government budget in the education sector at over 5 per cent of GDP. In particular, a pledge had been made to almost double the salary of teachers. That promise had already been materialized with an increase of 26 per cent as of the budget year of 2005.
Questions Raised by Experts
In questions, Committee Experts addressed a range of issues, including the direct applicability of the Covenant and the possibility of invoking it before the courts, asking about the deficiencies in the implementation of the Covenant; the degree of independence of the human rights centre of Albania and if it was consulted in the preparation of the report; on the independence of the judiciary and its effectiveness; whether the Roma community had equal opportunities to social services; about the existence of corruption and political appointee judges; if the Ombudsman was monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Covenant; about the steps taken to implement the laws with regard to the Covenant; how the judiciary was protected from threats by organized crime organizations; about the kind of measures taken to protect judges form criminal gangs; the steps taken to protect the Greek minorities in Albania; about the measures and policies of the Government to protect its citizens living abroad from discrimination; the implementation of poverty reduction strategy in the rural areas; whether policies of equal treatment and non-discrimination of citizens were designed; the impact of the traditional code against women and its effect on the respect of gender equality; the measures taken to curb immigration and to protect the families of the immigrants; whether the Constitutional Court had rendered a law on economic, social and cultural rights null and void; the number of Egyptians in the country and their status; how the positive discrimination measure was implemented with regard to certain minority groups; why Albania failed to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; the effects of the massive migration on the economic, social and cultural aspects in the country; and the difference between linguistic and national minorities, among other things.
Response by Delegation
Responding to the various questions raised by the Committee Experts, Mr. Hoxha, said Albania had a problem with its judicial system and it was endeavouring to improve the system. The transformation of the system from communism to the current system was not yet completed. The level of the establishment of the judicial system still needed further reform. Further measures had to be taken on the accountability of the justice system. In the light of reports and inspections by the Ministry of Justice, a number of judges had been dismissed from their posts. The backlog of the older judges had impeded the implementation of full reform in the judicial system. In the context of resources and the political will of the Government, the justice system was being overhauled. The credibility of the judicial system was far from perfect and the situation would continue as such for the time being.
Other members of the Albanian delegation said that Albanian court verdicts referred to provisions of the Covenant and cases could be made available.
Women’s issue was part of the problem in the country because of the fact that they were deprived of their rights in the past. They were among those who enjoyed positive discrimination measures and they were provided with all opportunities, including parliamentary seats.
The Albanian Centre for Human Rights was created in 1992 and it was functioning as an independent non-governmental organization, the delegation said. A working group had been established to promote the reporting process of the State. Before 2001, submitting initial or periodic reports, which were required under Albanian international obligations, had been a problem. Upon the completion of the current initial report to the Committee, the Government had invited NGOs to participate in finalizing the text and provide their observations; however many did not show up.
The courts in Albania were independent from the other State political pillars and from the intervention by the Government, the delegation said. The Government had taken further measures to enhance the effectiveness of the judiciary by providing educational training to the magistrates and other judicial personnel. The professional capacity of the judges had also been raised while putting measures to combat corruption. The judges and prosecutors were appointed by the higher forum of judicial body in order to avoid the intervention of the political pillar. The Constitutional Court was closely involved in the selection of judges and procurators.
There were Greek, Macedonian and Montenegrin minorities, with the Greek population amounting to 35,820 or 1.2 per cent of the whole Albanian population, the delegation said; the number of Macedonians was 4,490 while the Montenegrins constituted only to 1,000. The Roma were considered a linguistic minority. The Government did not recognise the Egyptians as a minority group. The improvement of living conditions of the Roma community had been a priority of the Government. A Committee had been established with representatives of various minorities, with the aim of improving the conditions of those entities.
Albania had complete legal provisions for the respect and non-discrimination of minorities, the delegation said. Some reports of police mistreatment of minorities could be attributed to the nature of the police work. However, there had been cases of sanctions against police officers following investigations of complaints by an inter-departmental group by the Ministry of Justice and the police.
The Albanian authorities did not know the figure of Albanians migrants to many European countries; however a high number of them had settled in many countries, the delegation said. In Italy many of them had become permanently established following that Government’s decision to integrate foreigners residing on its soil. A high number of Albanians were also reported to live illegally abroad.
In 1991, Albania’s economic situation was that of a rural one. Now, it was being transformed through the implementation of major economic market economies, the delegation said. At present, the rural area was being deserted because of people’s exodus to urban areas and migration. The Government had enhanced its cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme and other international agencies in order to boost its economic and social conditions.
The national strategy for gender equality focused on empowering women in aspects within the society, the delegation said. They were encouraged to participate in all areas, including legislative representations, running their own enterprises and participating in decision-making.
Albania was a point of origin, transit and destination of trafficking in persons, the delegation said. The Government had adopted anti-trafficking laws and put in place measures to combat the phenomenon. The situation was now improving, thanks to police cooperation with countries of destination of trafficked persons. The trafficking of women was on top of the list of cases, constituting 90 per cent of the trafficked persons. The fight against organized crime pertaining to trafficking in persons had also intensified. A special institution on anti-trafficking in human beings had also been created to monitor the functions of other organizations dealing with the fight against trafficking and the implementation of the laws on the subject. Centres had been set up for victims of trafficking and returnees. Albania was a party to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, and its Additional Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
On customary law and its scope of application, the delegation said it was not part of the positive law of the country. The customary law had been discarded with the implementation of legislation and it might be used among some minor groups and in cases of interpersonal conflicts. Any form of customary law did not affect women. The canon law had no place in the modern Albanian legislation.
Questions by Experts
In follow-up questions, a number of Experts asked about the status of Roma communities and asked why they were classified as linguistic rather than an ethnic minority. The issue of the Egyptians living in Albania was also raised by the Experts who asked the delegation about the human rights obligation of the State towards those Egyptians. The Experts asked whether the Egyptians were enjoying the economic, social and cultural rights enshrined in the Covenant.
Response by Delegation
The Ombudsman could make recommendations to the Government on issues pertaining to the provisions of the Covenant, the delegation said. With regard to the rights of persons with disabilities, the delegation said all persons with disabilities had the right to get married and have children.
Albania had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and was considering ratifying its Optional Protocols. Albania was a party to the Additional Protocol 13 of the European Convention on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms concerning the death penalty.
The canon law did not intervene in the country’s legislation, the delegation said. There were, however, few exceptions with regard to inheritance in the northern part of the country, whose implementation might discriminate against girls.
The classification of minorities was made in accordance to the European Convention on Minorities, the delegation said. Whether a community was classified as ethnic or linguistic minority did not make a difference. The majority of minorities in Albania, particularly the estimated 90,000 Roma, were dispersed all over the country and did not occupy a specific territory.
Questions by Experts
Further questions were asked by the Committee Experts on issues pertaining to minimum wage and how it was indexed with regard to current price rates; they also asked if men and women received equal pay and the punitive measures to ensure implementation of the principles of equal pay; whether the trade unions had been transformed and their affiliation to international trade unions reinforced; cases of sexual harassment in the workplace; about the measures taken by the State to reduce the gap between rural and urban pensions; if Roma and Egyptians received unemployment benefits once they become unemployed; and whether the right to strike was extended to all sectors of workers, including the public sector, among other things.
Response by Delegation
Responding to the questions, the members of the delegation said that unemployment benefits were provided to all workers, and if a worker was unjustly dismissed, he or she would receive a full one-year salary. The principle of equal pay was enshrined in the labour code and there could not be any form of discrimination.
On the issue of the right to organize a strike, the delegation said the right to strike had been respected as part of the human rights of citizens. The right to join trade unions was recognized under the Albanian labour law. The number of women participating in trade unions was significant. The confederation of the Albanian trade unions was a member of the international federation of trade unions. The representatives of army, the police forces and the civil servants were not allowed to strike. However, they were allowed to participate in activities of professional trade unions. Civil servant could defend their rights through internal procedures.
There was no provision for the maintenance of minimum service in the event of a strike, the delegation said. Before a strike was called to order, a conciliation process could be initiated to settle labour conflicts and the Ministry of Labour was mandated to carry out the process.
Courts considered cases of sexual harassment in the workplace as sexual violence; however there was no specific legislation on the issue of sexual harassment, the delegation said.
The high rate of unemployment among the Roma community was a disturbing issue, the delegation said. The situation could be attributed to their low educational background and lack of training. The rate of unemployment for this segment of the population was around 90 per cent.
Asked whether Albania had ratified ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour, the delegation said Albania had ratified it in 2001.
The number of labour incidents had been decreasing each year, the delegation said, adding that in 2005, it was only 51 while in 2006, it was 34 cases.
Questions by Experts
In further questions, Experts asked, among other things, questions on domestic violence and the causes for it being widespread in the country; whether prostitution was regularized by law and if trafficking for the purpose of prostitution was penalized; the conditions of abortion and its negative effect of popular use on the population growth; the situation of children in relation to the commission of crimes; if education was obligatory and children were prevented from working at an early age; the reasons behind the reduction in the numbers of students in schools; the absence of legislation on the right to housing and the policy on enforced eviction, particularly with regard to Roma and the Egyptians; provision of housing subsidies for low-income citizens; the reasons why the State did not ratify the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on children involved in armed conflicts and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; whether judges and the police were trained to better deal with domestic violence; how health care was covered in the absence of health insurance; how the State was combating diseases such as syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases; if polygamy existed in the country; the effects of privatization of education and competition with public schools; the situation of family blood feuds preventing children from attending schools, particularly in northern Albania; the percentage of the State budget allocated to cultural activities; if a law existed to protect cultural heritages of the nation; and the meaning and the concept of the Pan-Albanian.
Response by Delegation
Responding to the questions, Mr. Hoxha said with regard to what happened to children who did not continue their education after the ninth grade, with the changes in the educational system, the age of the end of compulsory education was now 15, not 14. The number of children who continued their education was increasing. Children could also engage in some light professional activities, but the age for professional activity remained 16. On domestic violence committed against women and the young, the delegation said the Department of Equal Opportunities was reviewing the law on gender equality of 2004, and had been engaged in drafting a strategy on gender equality. The problems linked to domestic violence such as economic imbalance, had not been properly understood by Albanian society. Studies showed that it went beyond socio-economic limits, and had been under-reported. Parliament was expected to adopt a draft law on the phenomenon in the near future.
With regards to prostitution, the delegation said that in the Criminal Code there were several offences regarding this and trafficking in human beings. The phenomenon of prostitution was condemned, and everyone who exercised the profession was condemned by the Code, and there was a special provision regarding the exploitation of prostitution, including with aggravating circumstances. The Code also condemned the trafficking of children, women, and human beings. This group of criminal offences were included within the chapter of offences against moral and public dignity. There was also a provision on the illegal employment of minors which had recently been added to the Code. There were provisions with regards to the rape of minors, and there were currently 15 cases regarding minors between 14 and 18 before the Courts. There were also 23 cases of trafficking in women that had been reported so far this year, and no reports of child trafficking.
On health matters and issues relating to abortion, the delegation said there was a law on abortion adopted in 1995 which regulated abortion. Abortion was forbidden after 12 weeks. One of the measures which would be taken in the future was to increase respect of this law. There was currently no public report with regards to the figures of death due to abortion. Public health was a priority of the Ministry of Health, and it was increasing training activities and public health promotion strategies. A public health strategy for the next five years had been published in 2005. On poverty, extreme poverty did not necessarily correlate with income per capita, but the level of development did impact the level of poverty. In 2005, GDP per capita reached $ 2,580. On whether these developments had reached the most vulnerable groups of society, this was the case. Growth in consumption explained all the changes in poverty reduction needs. Nearly three quarters of the poor remained in rural areas. There had been sustained economic growth due to various Governmental projects and policies including expanding infrastructure and attracting investment.
On the right to housing, forced evictions were provided for in the law in the context of public expropriation, the delegation said. Subjects had the right to real compensation and to present their claim to the court. It was also only for public purposes such as building roads and schools that forced evictions could take place. On whether Albania intended to ratify two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the child, there were no obstacles to this, and the Government had begun the process with regards to the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Government had adopted special protection for children that was based on the ILO Convention on the worst forms of child labour, under which it was forbidden to employ minors under 16 years of age, and the working hours for minors was limited to six hours a day. There was a national programme and strategic plan on the elimination of child labour. Particular efforts were also made with regards to preventing child trafficking, including television advertisements and increasing funds for professional training and opportunities for victims.
With regards to work on gender equality, Mr. Hoxha said that work was being done on an inter-Ministerial framework. Gender related questions were of utmost importance, and the Government was aware of this. A specific institution with proper funding, a budget line and a Secretariat would have to be put in place, but concerns remained as to the Government’s ability to address this. It was difficult to have statistics on violence and marriage of minors, there was a legislative framework for the latter, but it was true that in some isolated areas this tradition was still very strong and had not yet been weeded out, and this was a signal to the Government to be very watchful of these phenomena. The age of marriage was normally 18 years of age the delegation said, and sexual relations with minors under 14 years was punished by the Criminal Code. Albanian legislation in the field of the rights of children had been adapted and was in full conformity with international conventions, and every person under 18 years was considered a child.
The Ministry of Education and Science was taking measures to cover as many students as possible, including home-schooled children, irrespective of their location and status. There were particular projects regarding Roma children, the delegation said. Psychological services were also offered to all students, including Roma children. Particular efforts were made with regards to children who had been isolated due to blood feuds. The Ministry had focussed its efforts with regards to the Roma in several ways, including the construction of schools where there were large groups of Roma children, and there was cooperation with various institutions working on Roma poverty in order to encourage children to attend school.
Concerning the situation of public health and trends in this regard, in particular in terms of prevention, HIV/AIDS infection and related strategies, and what the Government’s plans were in the future, the delegation said measures had been taken by the Ministry of Health on anti-smoking and HIV/AIDS. There was an anti-smoking law. Information on HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases was widely distributed. There were high numbers of those infected with syphilis and other sexually-transmitted diseases including Hepatitis. Trainings and other measures were being taken, such as encouraging the use of condoms among the young and those who were HIV-positive. There was also confidential HIV testing.
Polygamy was not allowed in Albania, Mr. Hoxha said, and there were no cases of it in the country. Education was guaranteed in the Constitution, the delegation said. On private education, there were a large number of private institutions in the pre-university system. Efforts were being made to counter the low standard of education provided at State schools. There were no official comparative studies in terms of students’ achievements in private and public schools. However, the tendency was for business interests to encroach upon quality of education in private schools. On whether teachers’ salaries were sufficient to live in Albania, they were indeed sufficient. Public university education was open to everyone, but the number of new students entering universities was based on quotas determined by the Ministry of Education, and was therefore limited. Students could attend different universities as per their application to these institutions and room in the quota. University attendance was free of charge. Students also had the choice of attending fee-paying Universities. A new law on higher education was being drafted, with the aim of giving more autonomy to the public universities. Work was being done to make the educational system compatible with Western countries, Mr. Hoxha said, and this implied a total re-working of the system.
The traditional patriarchal system was perpetuated in certain areas, Mr. Hoxha said, and feuds continued in certain areas, with impact on the situation of young children, in particular young boys. However, with regards to women, there was legislation protecting them in this context. This traditional behaviour remained somewhat problematic, and sentencing related to crimes was now
stiffer. There were also civil society initiatives towards solving these problems and towards eradicating the phenomenon. The National Development Council was developing a strategy to deal with feuding clans so that all activities could be properly coordinated. Funding from abroad was being sought to provide training to ensure that children involved in such conflicts received at least minimum education and to promote reconciliation.
Regarding the amount of the budget ear-marked for cultural promotion, Mr. Hoxha said this was more than 0.5 per cent of the total budget. The Ministry of Culture also worked to promote tourism. There was no general cultural law, but there was a framework with regards to museums and textbooks. There was no united strategy for cultural promotion, but many things were done to increase participation in cultural affairs by the general public such as festivals of different types. There was no role of religion in culture.
Concluding Remarks
FERIT HOXHA, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, in concluding remarks, said during the two days, comments, suggestions and questions had been heard, and the delegation had tried to respond to these. The delegation hoped that it had succeeded in this, and apologised for any missing or incomplete replies. A number of questions needed completion, and written answers would be sent or included in the next report. During introductory remarks, he had said that this was a useful exercise: human rights were a matter that required attention from the State and society, and progress was expected by all. This was the commitment of Albania, and the Government intended to carry out this progress. This first report would surely be followed by other reports, and these would update and complete the vision of the human rights situation in Albania. The Chair and the Committee were thanked for the seriousness with which they had tackled the issue, and the useful comments that had been made. Albania looked forward to receiving the concluding observations, and would work to make sure that the implementation of the Covenant was in full compliance with its commitment in this regard.
VIRGINIA BONOAN-DANDAN, Chairperson of the Committee, in concluding remarks, said the Committee looked forward to the second periodic report. In drafting the conclusions, details would be present to guide Albania in their implementation. Mr. Hoxha and the delegation were thanked for their replies, and the efforts made in coming up with answers. It was hoped the concluding observations would help to better the implementation of the Covenant in the State party.
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