WUNRN
Albania Gender Alliance for
Development Center
Call
to Action!
From
the Albania Network of the Civil Society Organizations Against Gender Based
Violence
TWO WIVES MURDERED WITHIN A
DAY! STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!
We, the Civil
Society Organizations, are deeply concerned, shocked and discontent for the
apparent increase of extreme cases of domestic violence during the past six
months. To date, in the year 2011, 17
women have lost their lives inside their family homes. On behalf of the lost lives of the mothers
and wives, of the children, fathers and grandchildren of these women, we call
to action the Albanian society to raise its voice and the power of its opinion
against the damage that this barbarian violence causes to our entire society.
As
organizations of the civil society, we have full conviction that the daily and
systematic violence that is exercised within the family, not only in the
physical form but also in the psychological and economic forms, is the cause
for the occurrance of such events.
Therefore, it is the duty of comptetent Albanian institutions to give
the appropriate attention to the prevention, stopping, and punishment of
domestic violence to its full extent.
Besides these
measures, and the continuing process for the economic empowerment of the family
and Albanian women, special attention is needed for the strengthening and
increase of effectiveness and implementation of the existing legal means. In this situation, we greatly emphasize that
more attention should be given to the implementation of the Family Code and to
the law “For legal actions against violence in family relations”, from the
courts, State Police, from the Prosecution, social units of the local
governement, and bailiff offices, in order to increase the law’s efficiency in
the daily battle of domestic violence.
At the same
time, we believe that the absence of criminal punishment for domestic violence
may bring such extreme cases. Therefore,
we ask that the Council of Ministers and the Parliament should hasten,
establishing a special criminal action in the Penal Code, that will condemn the
systematic violence that violates the diginity and the character of family
members, especially women and children.
We, as civil society organizations, emphasize that these measures should
be accompanied also with changes in the Code of Penal Procedures, in order that
the criminal prosecution of domestic violators becomes a case that is pursued
by the State, through the Prosecution office.
The latter, should not leave the victims alone during a long trial
process.
We, the civil
society organizations, express our willingness to increase collaboration with
the state organizations and to pressure them to stop domestic violence. Our Call To Action is for the protection of
family values. The understanding and
peace of the entire Albanian society depends on the understanding and peace
from these family values.
1. CENTRE FOR LEGAL AND CIVIC INITIATIVES
2. COUNSELING LINE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
3. “REFLEKSIONE” ASSOCIATION
4. GENDER ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT CENTER
5. SHELTER FOR VIOLATED WOMEN AND GIRLS
6. “USEFUL TO ALBANIAN WOMEN” ASSOCIATION
7. INDEPENDENT FORUM FOR ALBANIAN WOMEN
8. PARTNERS, ALBANIA
9. VATRA CENTRE, VLORË
10. ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH SOCIAL
PROBLEMS, DURRËS
11. AGRITRA VISION, PESHKOPI
12. WOMEN TO WOMEN, SHKODËR
13. WOMEN’S CENTER “KRISTAL” – BERAT
14. COUNSELLING CENTER FOR WOMEN AND SOCIAL
SERVICES – KUKES
15. MULTIFUNCTIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER – GJIROKASTER
16. WOMEN’S FORUM – ELBASAN
17. “ME THE WOMAN” – POGRADEC
18. ANOTHER VISION – ELBASAN
19. COMMUNITY CENTER “TODAY FOR THE FUTURE”– DURRËS
20. WOMEN’S CLUB “RESPECT” – PUKË
21. COMMUNITY CENTER “TODAY FOR THE FUTURE” – ELBASAN
22. COMMUNITY CENTER “THE APPLE’S FLOWER” – BURREL