Albania reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening women’s access to justice during the General Discussion of the GSW70, held at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.

Addressing the Commission, Albania’s Minister of Health and Social Protection, Evis Sala, highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to advance gender equality through justice reform, stronger legislation, and increased representation of women in decision-making.

In her remarks, Minister Sala emphasized that equal access to justice is essential to ensuring that women and girls can fully exercise their rights in practice, not only in principle.

“Gender-responsive justice begins with strong laws that guarantee equality and prohibit discrimination, but these rights become meaningful only when women and girls can rely on institutions that are accessible, responsive and sensitive to their needs,” she said.

Minister Sala noted that Albania has recently adopted two key laws that further align its legal framework with international standards. A new law on gender equality strengthens access for victims of discrimination to equality bodies and the courts in both the public and private sectors. In parallel, new legislation on violence against women expands protections to address harassment, technology-facilitated violence, and violence against women in politics, while reinforcing prevention, protection, and accountability measures, including in cases of femicide.

She also highlighted progress in women’s participation in public life, noting that women currently hold 35 percent of seats in Parliament and 40 percent of ministerial positions. Women are also strongly represented within Albania’s judiciary, including in the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court.

Minister Sala underlined the expansion of access to justice mechanisms, including the significant growth of Albania’s free legal aid system, where women represent the majority of beneficiaries, as well as the nationwide coordinated referral mechanism addressing gender-based violence.

At the same time, she acknowledged that justice reform has brought transitional challenges, including lengthy proceedings and court reorganization, stressing

that ensuring inclusive access to justice—particularly for women in rural areas and vulnerable situations—remains a key priority.

Looking ahead, Albania will continue strengthening implementation through improved institutional capacity, legal literacy, and close cooperation with international partners, including UN agencies and civil society organizations.

“As Albania advances on its European path, ensuring that justice and governance systems work equally for women and men will remain central to our democratic development,” Minister Sala concluded.