Albania Civic Engagement for a Functional Judiciary System and Access to Justice in Albania
In the Framework of the project Civic Engagement for a Functional Judiciary System and Access to Justice in Albania financed by European Union and implemented by Save the Children in partnership with Centre of Integrated Legal Services and Practices here is the summary of the Winning Projects 2nd round of Call for Proposals.
Total number of applicants: 55
Number of successful applications: LOT 1: 12 Small (EUR 159,954)
LOT 2: 12 Medium (EUR 274,527)
Total Amount to be disbursed: 435,000 EUR
Length of successful projects: 7 – 12 months
Starting date of projects’ implementation: As of 01 April 2018
Ending date of projects’ implementation: By 30 March 2019
SMALL SIZE GRANT PROJECTS
Organization’s name: Qendra për Zhvillimin e Grave Rurale (RJ2-09)
Project title: Raising the awareness of rural communities – especially that of women –
on the indispensable need to stop domestic violence.
Location: Kruja Municipality / Bashkia Krujë
Amount: EUR 13,743.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: To help rural communities and local authorities in addressing domestic
violence related issues and cases.
This project aims to (i) raise awareness of women and young girls about their legal and family rights (ii) improve their knowledge of the legal instruments that help in preventing and protecting from domestic violence (iii) to provide capacity building for representatives of local institutions involved in this matter through trainings, round tables and preparation and distribution of detailed and informing printed materials (iv) enhance the response of local actors that can help in fulfilling family rights, improvement of gender equality, provide protection from domestic violence (v) explain and raise awareness about benefits of gender equality.
This project is planned to be implemented in the Municipality of Kruja and rural areas of its administrative units of Nikla, Thumana, Bubqi, Fushë-Kruja. As a result, the final beneficiaries will be the rural communities of Kruja District, especially women and girls. Other equally important target groups will be the representatives of local authorities involved in and who can play an important role in protection from domestic violence and enhancement of family legal rights.
By the end of the twelve months’ implementation period, through direct meetings, round tables and trainings this project will reach directly more than 1,100 individuals.
Organization: Institute for sustainable policies (RJ2-10)
Project title: Monitoring the functioning of Civil First Instance Court of Lushnja District
Location: Lushnje
Amount: EUR 13,851.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: To assess and provide qualitative/quantitative evidence on the quality of
judiciary of Lushnje first instance civil court.
The project proposal intends to address the main issues that impair the quality and efficiency of the Albanian judiciary, with a special focus on district courts located in remote areas which may encounter additional and particular problems. There are 3 specific objectives:
1. Assessing the perception of citizens and businesses with regards to the quality of court services and court communications;
2. Interviewing the civil court officials to identify the challenges they face during their daily work.
3. Analysis of the indicators on the progress of civil cases issued by first instance civil court of Lushnje District;
The project activities are a combination of desk-based review and in field research. Desk based review will be performed during the first stage of this project. After a preliminary assessment, it will be conducted through review of legal and institutional framework, regulations and court proceedings, collecting and processing information from existing studies on the matter. The second phase of the project consists of a thorough review of court decisions. During the monitoring phase, there will be face to face interviews with judges, lawyers and court administration officials. Furthermore, 100 questionnaires will be distributed among citizens and businesses, about the court level of satisfaction in offering their services. Last phase of the project will consist of preparing the final study containing all data gathered and processed and recommendations for future amendments.
Organization’s name: Women Democracy Network Albania (WDN Albania) (RJ2-12)
Project title: Consolidation and promotion of the victims of violence rights’ approach to justice through capacity building for advocates and provision of legal recommendations in the area of gender-based violence.
Location: Kruje, Kurbin, Pogradec, Saranda
Amount: EUR 13,910.00
Implementation time: – 8 months
Overall objective: Consolidation and promotion of victims’ rights’ approach to justice
The program is designed to enhance lawyers and advocates’ knowledge and skills in representing victims of gender-based violence and to provide legal recommendations for reform in the area of gender-based violence. Capacity building will be focused in four cities of Albania, namely Kurbin, Kruje, Pogradec and Saranda.
Legal reform recommendations in the area of gender-based violence will be the focus of a national conference in Tirana on GBV legislation, actuality and perspective, bringing together law professionals, including police officers, lawyers, prosecutors, judges, National Chamber of Advocacy representatives and Members of the Parliament, including from the Law Committee and Sub-committee on GBV. The outcome will include a document with legal recommendations, including reform proposals, for advancement/improvement of legislation on GBV.
Organization’s name: Expertise në Drejtësi Formim i Avancuar Teknicienësh – EDFAT (RJ2-15)
Project title: Justice of quality - Justice in time
Location: Tropojë, Kukës and Lezhë
Amount: EUR 13,905.00
Implementation time: – 9 months
Overall objective: Assessing the quality of court decisions and the length of proceedings
The project will monitor and assess the quality of justice in Albania, specifically in Tropojë, Kukës and Lezhë. The focus of the project will be on the quality of court decisions in relation to the efficiency of proceedings in due time.
By implementing this project, EDFAT will assess the quality of the process and the decision-making, focusing on how the Courts respect the legal principle of having reasoned decisions. EDFAT will work closely with some of the most notable experts in the field, who will offer their service and be part of this initiative. Cases will be chosen randomly divided in civil and criminal ones, and there will be a pre-assessment regarding the proceedings from our associate experts who will be monitoring on site. EDFAT will further organize round tables in each of the three cities, with the participation of stakeholders.
Every analysis will be made keeping the focus on the functionality of the Judiciary System based on the law and the public interest. The final reports will be shared with professionals, media and law students. An important aspect of this project is its publicity, so it will not be only for legal professionals to understand, but also for the whole society.
Organization’s name: Institute for the Promotion of Social and Economic Development (RJ2-21)
Project title: Informed Active Citizens versus Access to Justice
Location: Lushnje Region
Amount: EUR 13,960.70
Implementation time: – 9 months
Overall objective: Improve access to justice system by increasing local capacities, based on conclusions and recommendations from the citizens’ perspective, in accordance with the Albanian Parliament Public Legal Education Strategy – SELP., Inform vulnerable groups on how to access legal aid services and support them to become Active Citizens; Identify potential obstacles in access to justice and free legal aid Communicating these issues to policy decision makers in Lushnje Region by proposing solutions.
The project will provide a consolidated support to access to justice, which is people/community centred, putting women and men at the centre of country’s understanding of justice as a service to citizens. This is in accordance with the efforts of the Public Legal Education Strategy of the Albanian Parliament.
Legal education capacity building in accordance with SELP, will be implemented in partnership with local CSOs in Lushnje region, through information and training sessions, for informing and educating the vulnerable communities of this region to become Active Citizens. This initiative is to be considered as a pilot project, implemented in Lushnja Region, by proposing innovative tools and actions for ensuring long term sustainability of justice and human rights programming in the institutions daily work. As a result, the project will contribute in increasing the outreach to vulnerable populations by supporting practical initiatives to increase access to justice services. These in turn will provide possibilities for increased knowledge of vulnerable populations on their rights and protecting mechanisms and their increased access to justice.
Organization’s name: PROGRESS Foundation (RJ2-24)
Project title: Tackling Juvenile Delinquency through Quality Justice (JuDeQua)
Location: Region of Dibër, Albania
Amount: EUR 13,820.32
Implementation time: – 10 months
Overall objective: The overall goal of this project is to help enhance quality of justice related to juvenile delinquency for the District Court of Dibër and the District Court of Mat.
The goal of this project is to help enhancing the quality of justice related to juvenile delinquency for the District Court of Dibër and the District Court of Mat, in Albania. It intends to do so through a) monitoring of court efficiency for 2015/6 (special focus on juvenile justice), b) assessing the level of capacity building of judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and c) assessing the quality of court decisions related to juvenile offences. The first specific target group (Tier 1) are the judges, prosecutors and lawyers working in juvenile delinquency. The second specific target group (Tier 2) are CSOs and activities working with juvenile delinquency in the region.
Activities of this project comprise data gathering, data analysis and continuous monitoring of the court, qualitative assessment through stakeholder survey and selected interviews, roundtables with them and selected case/verdict assessment. Throughout the project cycle there will be many information and dissemination activities. Such activities include, but are not limited to, information sessions with stakeholders, social media campaigns, web disclosure and open access of materials, reporting and workshops/meetings with all interested parties.
Organization’s name: The Association of the Regional Professional Journalists. (Rj2-28)
Project title: Media impact in the respect of Human Rights Standards by prosecutions and courts.
Location: Pogradeci, Përmeti, Saranda, municipalities.
Amount: EUR 10,045.00
Implementation time: – 9 months
Overall objective: The project aims at increasing transparency and accountability by courts and prosecutors’ offices of three cities for court services and court communication; and at improving access to justice for vulnerable groups.
Regional Professional Journalists Association aims at promoting amongst judges, prosecutors and journalists of the human rights standards, widely accepted in Europe based on the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The link to the grant objective is the strengthening of the civil society organizations to increase transparency and accountability of the judiciary system and improve access to justice for vulnerable groups in Albania. The project will be based on 3 main pillars:
1. The publication of the Manual on Human Rights as a mandatory guide to prosecutors and judges on the implementation of Article 10 of the ECHR, which will make efforts to refer these concrete standards to the Albanian system.
2. Training of journalists, regarding the access they should have in obtaining information from court and prosecutors' office, the recognition of the law on anti-discrimination and respect for human rights and freedoms, according to Article 10 of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
3. Public awareness regarding the quality of court services and court communication for the public, in general, and especially for vulnerable groups.
Organization’s name: Antigonea (RJ2-29)
Project title: A comprehensive approach in the improvement of justice system
Location: Sarande, Permet, Gjirokaster and respective remote areas
Amount: EUR 13,350.00
Implementation period: –11 months
Overall objective: Improve justice system functioning through a comprehensive approach
The proposed intervention is trying to bring a comprehensive approach by involving both access and monitoring elements. The strategy of the proposal will be focused on improving access to justice in two main directions: direct service delivery for juveniles sentenced with alternative measures, and improve of access to justice for disadvantaged groups. Antigonea’s project intends to provide direct services for the juveniles to have access in qualitative psychosocial and legal counseling. Another focus will be on legal education especially for disadvantaged groups, which is a real challenge because of lack of information of the public about new amendments and new laws brought by justice reform, but not only. Informing sessions will be provided to different categories: families of juveniles, women and men from vulnerable groups.
Monitoring efficacy of justice system is also a crucial element of this project. The monitoring process will be conducted in the light of the changes that justice reform has brought in the new procedural penal code. The change in drafting the complaints or request to court or length of proceeding etc. The newly approved Penal Procedure Code poses to the court new strict rules regarding the length of proceedings. New concepts related to the fair trail such as rights of the accused person, the conducting the preliminary sessions, the presence of lawyers, the criterion of setting the security measures etc., are to be implemented. This activity tends to evidence potential shortcomings, malpractice, and intentional or unintentional violation of law, the implementation of new legal proceedings. The recommendations of this report will be addressed to the relevant stakeholders as a tool for advocacy and for bringing improvement in the justice system functioning.
Organization’s name: Rromano Kham (RJ2-37)
Project title: Education and empowerment of the Roma community through the right to information, to access the justice system.
Location: Lushnje (Savër and Grabian) and Pogradec
Amount: EUR 13,433.20
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: Educate, empower, and strengthen the capacities of the Roma community to
use effective legal tools and right to information to access the justice system.
The project aim is to educate, raise awareness, empower, and strengthen the capacities of the Roma communities in the targeted municipalities to use effective legal tools, and the right to information to access the justice system. The target group and beneficiaries of the project are Roma people, who live in remote areas that doesnt have information to access the justice system. Particularly, the project seeks to provide knowledge and to raise awareness about the fundamental rights, human rights, and minority rights in Albania. Most importantly, educate the beneficiaries to access their rights through legal tools available and provided by institutions such as the Ombudsman, The Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, The Commissioner for Right to Information and Data Protection. Therefore, a series of informative session will take place in Lushnja and Pogradec with the above-mentioned institutions in order to inform the community about their role and the legal tools.
Other actors such as Roma leaders, activists, local NGOs, and the representative from the local level are welcomed to be involved and provide their kind assistance. Also the project will involve the volunteering engagement of the legal clinic of University of Tirana, and young professionals of Roma and Egyptians origin who will facilitate the process of data collection regarding the common legal issues and concerns that Roma face in accessing the justice system. Furthermore, they will work on case management, identifying common legal issues that affect most of the Roma community in the targeted areas. The data collected will be analysed with the help of trainer. Based on the findings, the staff of the project will come up with briefs and recommendations displaying the actual situation, and will address the needs of the Roma in accessing the justice system.
Organization’s name: Youth Movement for Democracy, Pukë (RJ2-46)
Project title: Improving victim’s access to justice and community/institutions’response to the victims’ needs for empowerment and integration.
Location: Pukë and Fushë Arrës
Amount: EUR 12,204.00
Implementation time: –12 months
Overall objective: To improve access to justice as well as the responsiveness and responsibility of community and institutions to the needs of the victims of violence for empowerment and integration.
The project aims to build a response to the current situation of violent behaviours, especially gender based violence, lack of tolerance, lack of empathy and care, as well as victim blaming more demonstrated among youth, which has led to aggravated psychological and physical harm from the part of the violence victims.
The project will achieve 6 main results: 1) 60 target violence victims will improveaccess to justice through having access to legal counseling and information ; 2) Alternative justice processes will be offered to the target victims of violence and crimes by establishing and two mediation platforms /group of community adults and also two mediation groups of high school students;3)An awareness campaign will build support for victim's right to information, access and protection; 4) The main stakeholders (15) of the “Domestic Violence Referral System” will improve their capacities on victim’s rights; 5) An advocacy activity will be planned and implemented with municipalities (Puke and Fushe Arrës); 6) The target youth (80 selected youth) from 4 target high schools will develop peaceful conflict management, tolerance and anti-violent behavior and skills, service learning and volunteerism skills, mentorship and peer to peer support skills;
The project will employ the following methods: a) Establish “Community Mediation” and “Student Mediation” Groups: b) Train stakeholders of the “Referral Mechanism System” for victims of domestic violence; c) Organize and implement an Advocacy and Information, Education and Communication Campaign; d) Train students of target high schools; e) Organize street activism and street art events.
The sustainability of the project will be ensured through creation of the community structures, based on traditional conflict management that has proved to create justice and prevent crimes and severe conflicts, project will also empower the target students through training on conflict management and mediation skills; project will sustain the referral system for victims of domestic violence and gender based violence through strengthening the process and empowering its members.
Organization’s name: Social Education & Environment Protection (SEEP) (RJ2-48)
Project title: More Attention
Location: Vlora Districts
Amount: EUR 13,813.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: Increased attention of justice actors for the fundamental rights of children who were divorced parents.
The “More Attention” project will monitor the court sessions of divorced parents in the district of Vlora to identify the legal protection of their children's rights by lawyers, and enforce the child's food obligation through the bailiffs. The monitoring reports will be made public in the media and social networks. The project will advocate the legal framework through lobbying with the Legal Affairs Committee of the Assembly of Albania with a package of recommendations drawn from the project, in favour of the children of divorced parents.
Organization’s name: For You Mothers and Children (RJ2-55)
Project title: Justice for juveniles ensures the future
Location: Kukes Municipality (Kukes Region)
Amount: EUR 13,919.00
Implementation time: - 12 months
Overall objective: (1) To sstrengthen the role of civil society organizations for the transparency and accountability of the judiciary system and improve access to justice for juveniles; and
(2) To contribute to the protection of legal rights of juveniles
The specific objective of the project is to ensure that legal rights of juveniles from Kukes municipality in contact and/or conflict with the law are properly implemented during civil, administrative, and penal proceedings.
Expected results are: (1) juveniles in general and juveniles in contact and/or conflict with the law in particular are informed about and aware of their legal rights; (2) Legal rights of the juveniles in contact and/or conflict with the law are properly protected through monitoring of legal proceedings and provision of free legal aid; and (3) The capacity of members of institutions of justice sector regarding juvenile justice has increased.
Main activities that will be implemented in order to achieve the first expected result include: Information sessions on legal rights of children and youth with juveniles in 9-year and high schools; Information sessions on legal rights of children and youth with parents and members of community; Workshops with teachers of 9-year and high schools; and Promotional campaign focusing on legal rights of children and youth.
In order to achieve the second expected result, a legal expert will provide free legal aid and monitor cases involving juveniles in contact and/or conflict with the law through all stages of legal proceedings. At least 55 juveniles will benefit from the legal aid and 25 court cases will be monitored. Round tables with representatives of institutions of justice system and other institutions dealing with children rights on juvenile justice and training workshops for of institutions of justice system and other institutions dealing with children rights on juvenile justice and restorative justice will be conducted in order achieve the third expected result. At least 25 members of these institutions will increase their capacity in dealing with cases involving juveniles in contact and/or conflict with the law. At least one practice will be improved and reflected in the internal rules and regulations of institutions.
Information sessions will serve to identify the needs and transfer information that will also be used for the proper provision of free legal aid. Information collected from information sessions and free legal aid will be used for the design and conduct of the capacity development activities with legal professionals and the monitoring of the activity of institutions of justice system. Project activities will be designed and conducted in close collaboration with the institutions of the justice system at local level as well as the Regional Directorate of Education.
MEDIUM SIZE GRANT PROJECTS
Organization’s name: Qendra Sociale per te Ndihmuar Njerezit ne Nevoje", Fushe-Arrez. (RJ2-01)
Project title: Promoting Core Human Rights; Justice Entitlement
Location: Fushe-Arrez and Puke Municipalities in Shkoder County- Albania
Amount: EUR 23,952.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: Accessible, fair and efficient justice system and the increase of public trust in the rule of law for community members of Puke and Fushe-Arrez
The project's purpose is to foster opportunities for greater community access to the justice system, in Puke and Fushe-Arrez, region of Shkoder. It plans to achieve so by implementing strategies to address and resolve certain identified barriers and perceptions such as;
1- Lack of affordable, reliable and honest legal representation
2- Abuse of authority, unfair/discriminatory enforcement of law
3- Lack of necessary legal information, and limited popular knowledge of rights
4- Limited public participation in law-related matters
5- Bureaucratic, delayed and expensive legal procedures
At the end of the implementation, the project plans to have reached the following results:
1- Supportive local justice delivery system through developed legal and representational capacity of the civil society in partnership with local public institutions;
2- Increased levels of community mobilization leading to increase of awareness, representation of rights and delivery of justice for the marginalized people;
3- Increased community resilience to respond appropriately to individual/institutional unlawful behaviour.
Organization’s name: Komuniteti Papa Xhovani XXIII (RJ2-05)
Project title: Alternative dispute resolution and legal aid to solve blood feuds
Location: District of Shkodër and rural areas, like Bardhaj, Gruda e re, Gurj I Zi, Kamëz and Tropoja
Amount: EUR 23,150.46
Implementation time: –12 months
Overall objective: The objective of the project is to improve the access to justice for vulnerable groups in the Region of Shkodër, in particular for the victims of the blood feuds.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the access to justice for vulnerable groups in the Region of Shkodër, while the specific objectives are: to improve the access to justice through legal aid for the victims of blood feuds; to promote the implementation of alternative dispute resolution (victim offender mediation) while safeguarding the concept of restorative justice process; to foster the awareness on victims’ rights among local and national institutions in the field of justice. In order to reach these objectives, the project foresees the implementation of an integrated approach that put together activities operating both on the immediate needs and on the factors that hinder the change of attitudes and behaviour. Specifically, legal counselling and accompaniment measures for families under blood feud will be provided, in order to guarantee the enjoyment of basic human rights. Moreover, the project foresees the mapping and monitoring activities through the periodic visits to families under blood feud, the implementation of alternative dispute resolutions and the awareness raising initiatives to sensitize a large section and different layers of the population. Finally, the last set of activities foresee the advocacy with relevant stakeholders through the organization of opportunities, like a round table discussion, and meetings aimed at fostering the cooperation and dialogue between the institutions and citizens in order to promote the elimination of the phenomenon and to protect the rights of the victims. Inside this range of activities, international counselling on the phenomenon of blood feud is foreseen as well in order to increase the knowledge about the phenomenon and to provide useful information on the cases of revenge.
Organization’s name: Meridia Albania (RJ2-07)
Project title: Better access to justice and good practice to reduce the recidivism of children in conflict with the law
Location: Kavaja and Kruja
Amount: EUR 23,159.20
Implementation: – 12 months
Overall objective: To contribute reducing recidivism of children in conflict with the law through direct services for re-integration of them into society.
The project offers direct services for children in conflict with the law, based on the previous good practice within penitentiary system and probation services. The project works focus on re-integration of children in conflict with the law into society and with dignity, through case management, vocational training and employment. The beneficiaries of project are children in conflict with the law within penitentiary institutions in Kavaja and Regional Probation Services in Kruja, and also involves their families. The project focuses its support on #.Ensuring the smooth re-integration of children targeted; #.Increasing the re-integration chances to children in conflict the law by sensitizing a multitude of stakeholders in field at the national and local level; #Collaboration of the penitentiary system and children in probation service with public and non-public social services to supporting the re-integration process through education, vocational training, skill-building based on their individual talents and interests; #.Engagement, under the participatory approach of families of children in conflict with the law as key actors to the re-integration process of their children into society.
Organization’s name: Albanian Centre YMCA (RJ2-14)
Project title: Enhancing access to justice of vulnerable communities in Tropoja and Kruja
Location: Tropoja and Kruja
Amount: EUR 20.910.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: To improve access to justice for general public through legal education and offering of free legal services on penal and civic cases for vulnerable target-
groups in two main areas of Tropoja, and Kruja
This is one-year project was formulated in the context of Justice Reform and Albanian government’s attempts to establish a credible, fair, independent, professional judicial system, oriented toward a transparent, responsive and efficient service, which enjoys the public credibility.
YMCA’s action will be focus on legal education of the public offering free legal services on penal cases for vulnerable target- groups in two main areas of Tropoja, and Kruja. This project aims to contribute to the empowering of these regions population, especially of young people with regards to children’s rights and protection, of women with regards to domestic violence and other vulnerable target-groups related to the access to justice. Another important element of our intervention will be the information about the changes on the procedures of the Penal Code.
Main activities will be;
a) Legal informing sessions in high schools (will be offered legal education sessions, especially on child protection law and new juvenile justice code)
b) Legal education sessions to women and men- especially on the domestic violence and protection orders, but also on other laws affected by justice reforms (penal and civil procedure code);
c) Demand-driven and tailor-made free legal services for vulnerable target- groups on civic and penal cases;
d) Legal awareness campaign through leaflets and informative materials (IEC) distributions within communities and community based groups, involving key community stakeholders.
Organization: Counseling Line for Women and Girls (RJ2-17)
Project title: Protecting the rights of victims of GBV and DV and promoting a more victim friendly approach to justice
Location: Krujë, Kurbin, Lushnjë, Pogradec, Pukë and Tiranë
Amount: EUR 24,148.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: To improve the protection of GBV and domestic violence victims
The proposal of Counselling Line for Women and Girls aims at addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups of population in Albania, especially women and girls - victims of GBV and DV, regarding the access to justice. The project will be implemented in Krujë, Kurbin, Lushnjë, Pogradec, Pukë and Tiranë. The intervention will seek to achieve its goal through multiple approaches, that target different actors and stakeholders, beside the direct beneficiaries.
The project will also pay attention to the rehabilitation of the perpetrators in detention centres. It considers it important for the improvement of the situation of children and women victims of domestic violence.
The project considers crucial the approach of staff of probation and prisons towards victims of domestic violence. In this context, capacity building will constitute a major intervention. Their capacity to properly deal with the cases of domestic violence will significantly increase. Increased awareness and education regarding women’s rights and women’s access to justice and victims’ rights approaches to justice will significantly contribute to the improvement of the situation of women, especially women threatened by acts of domestic violence, by different awareness campaigns and by training journalists on legal information regarding GBV and DV.
Organization’s name: Together for Life (RJ2-25)
Project title: Patients’ rights within justice system
Location: Lushnje, Diber
Amount: EUR 22,228.72
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: To improve the level of access to justice for the patients and their collaborators at local level
Project aim to combine findings, generated during our daily work, investigation process, and instruments used with other patients’ data to provide structured information on the process of raising the voice and finding justice in health sector. The project will implement in two areas in the northern and western low lands of Albania, respectively Diber and Lushnje. Indeed, in these areas, there is a high percentage of chronic patients with severe diseases. Living far from Tirana, they encounter challenges in health care system regarding services they need, medicines, time, information, communication ethics of the medical staff, benefits from law and social policies.
The target group of the project will be patients from Diber and Lushnja with chronic severe diseases (including children) such as haemophilia, thalassemia, Nephrology cancer. These individuals will have the opportunities to actively participate in the project implementation raise the problems and get support and know how to find solutions for them. Main activities will consist in information, awareness campaign on legal framework and case management. The approach of synergy between the project and other actors operating in the same or similar area will provide opportunities for new interventions in the future.
Organization: Albanian Helsinki Committee (RJ2-32)
Project title: To increase the independence, accountability, transparency and efficiency of New Governing Justice Institutions
Location: Tirana, Albania
Amount: EUR 23,200.00
Implementation time: - 12 months
Overall objective: The overall aim of this project is to increase the transparency of the implementation of judicial reform, vis-à-vis the public, the media and civil society, and to foster greater involvement in this process of the establishment and functioning of the new High Judicial Council (HJC) and the High
Prosecutorial Council (HPC)
This project aims at an active engagement of civil society and the public in monitoring and promoting the establishment and functioning of new governing bodies of the justice system. Monitoring this governing bodies requires high professional and methodological background. AHC proposes the development of a mitigation strategy by making use of the best expertise in the field as well as of its capacities, developed during previous experiences in monitoring the implementation of justice system in Albania. The monitoring will be extended in three main directions: First, AHC will monitor the respect of legal framework and especially the legal requirements for the selection, verification and appointment of candidates for the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council. Particular focus will be transparency vis-à-vis the public as the moral and professional integrity of candidates for this governing bodies. AHC will monitor sessions of parliamentary committees that will consider the candidates and undertake hearings with them.
Second, there will be a constant monitoring of media developments related to the progress of the establishment and functioning process of the new governing institutions of justice. Depending on these developments, sporadic monitoring may be necessary (based on external signals). Findings and conclusions from AHC monitoring will be made available to these bodies and can also be communicated to international missions of assistance such as Euralius, OPDAT, etc. According to their importance, they will be periodically communicated to the media and the public. Third, AHC will draw up a monitoring report on the most important findings and issues and the recommendations that have emerged. the draft report will be presented and discussed at the occasion of a roundtable with relevant stakeholders
Organization: Social Contract Institute (SSCI) (RJ2-35)
Project title: Improved Awarding and Implementation of Alternative Sentences
Location: Tropoja, Dibra, Kruja, Përmet, Pogradec, and Saranda
Amount: EUR 23,086.94
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: SSCI project will contribute to: (i) improve the rate and quality of alternative sentences awarded by the courts and monitored by PbS offices in Tropoja, Dibra, Kruja (in Northern Albania), and Përmet, Pogradec,
Saranda (in Southern Albania) and beyond; (ii) enhance opportunities for first-time and low risk offenders to have their rights respected and to reintegrate in society and conduct a life away from crime, once they
complete their sentence.
SSCI will conduct an assessment of all court decisions that awarded alternative sentences registered with the District Courts of in Tropoja, Dibra, Kruja, Përmet, Pogradec, and Saranda during the year 2016. SSCI will also review reports on the implementation of alternative sentences being served by individual offenders, reports that local offices of Probation Service prepare and submit to the prosecutors of the respective cases. SSCI will interview key stakeholders, i.e. judges, prosecutors, and staff of Probation Services in project’s target areas, Supreme Court judges, and staff of the School of Magistrate, to identify their perspectives, experience, and suggestions related to alternative sentencing. SSCI will also conduct focus groups with offenders that are serving or have completed alternative sentences. Based on the review of the relevant legal framework and the findings of the court decision and Probation Service reports, the interviews with key stakeholders, and focus groups with offenders, SCI will prepare a draft Report on Alternative Sentencing, that will be discussed at the occasion of a roundtable with key stakeholders to ensure their feedback regarding the report’s findings and recommendations. SSCI will reflect key stakeholders’ feedback in a report and will use this report as an advocacy tool with relevant stakeholders, to improve: the rate at which the courts award alternative sentences; the implementation and monitoring of alternative sentences; and the training of judges and prosecutors on alternative sentencing.
Organization: Streha Center (RJ2-44)
Project title: Advocating legal assistance for LGBTI community in Albania
Location: Albania
Amount: EUR 23,407.19
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: The project aims to strengthen and improve the access to justice for LGBT young people, by knowing and removing the barriers associated to this process.
The project is based on an internal reflection held on what were the previous successes and challenges of Streha Centre’s activities. The strategic intervention of the proposal is based on beneficiary-centered holistic and self-empowerment approaches, where the services help empowering beneficiaries and their lives’ choices. The project will be implemented based on three main strategic objectives (SO) and respective activities.
- SO1: Streha Shelter establishes an up to date understanding of the situation of access to justice of the LGBT community members in Albania,
- SO2: Awareness and advocacy are provided for the promotion of the rights of LGBT people with key stakeholders at the national and local levels.
- SO3: LGBT community members are assisted in case their rights are being violated and when they suffer discrimination and domestic violence.
Organization’s name: IMZHI (Institute of Migration, Development and Integration) (RJ2-49)
Project title: Civic engagement for a functional judiciary system and access to justice in Albania.
Location: Region of Kurbin & Permet.
Amount: EUR 23,250.00
Implementation time: – 8 months
Overall objective: Supporting the execution of alternative measures for vulnerable groups; Awareness raising with special focus on friendly approaches; Capacity building with professionals
The project itself is a reflection of analysis and data on human rights’ violations happening due to overuse of detention. Despite reforms initiated in the context of EU integration, opening of new places of detention, application of alternative measures and the presence of independent oversight, the current justice system remains challenged by a range of problems. Changes of ‘classic’ sentencing vis-à-vis the most vulnerable categories of society, such as children and women, require a more effective approach when dealing with these cases. The project aims at providing services to solve conflicts through Mediation as an alternative dispute resolution measure, in the presence of psychologists as an indispensable element in the fair development of a trial process with children and women as parties. Through the establishment of contact points, mediators and psychologists at the respective district courts selected for the implementation of this project, the aim is not only to inform the citizens about the new alternative methods of conflict resolution, but also their direct application in solving these conflicts by cooperating not only with the parties in specific processes but also with the local justice institutions.
The proposed project will consist on the creation of the Office of Mediation Advocacy and Psychologists in police departments in all criminal cases involving specially children and women but not only, as a mean to guarantee the access to justice in the best appropriate way, applying this action firstly in Kurbin & Permet in the respective districts, where there is little legal information. It also aims at monitoring prolongation of trials, implementation of the rights of children and women and their lawyers and psychologists, conflicts between businesses, schools, government agencies and the institutions of the justice system for juveniles. These issues will be presented at the Institute of detached District Courts and other stakeholders to underline the importance of alternative dispute resolution methods.
Organization’s name: Democratic Integration and Development Centre Kukës (DIDCK) (RJ2-52)
Project title: Promoting a Transparent and Accountable Judiciary to deliver Justice for all
Location: Municipality of Tropoja
Amount: EUR 22,034.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: Increase the transparency and accountability of the justice system through the support of the civil society actors in the Municipality of Tropoja.
The project “Promoting a Transparent and Accountable Judiciary to deliver Justice for all” aims to support civil society actors in the Municipality of Tropoja, by setting up and running an impartial (initially ad-hoc) mechanism for monitoring the judiciary system looking at the efficacy and quality of the system as a mean to increase its accountability and transparency. It is expected that, by the end of the project, the public, interest groups and specialized agencies operating in the Municipality of Tropoja will be better informed about the quality and efficacy of the judiciary system. Most importantly, staffs of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)/ Community Based Organizations (CBOs) operating in this municipality will be trained and cooperating together to monitor regularly the quality and efficacy of the judiciary system after project closure. The project will be implemented for 12 months through its main activities that are grouped into three stages as below:
During the first stage, the project focuses on developing a methodology for monitoring the judiciary system, focusing only on first level courts and appeal courts (of cases appealed after a decision has been made from Tropoja District Court). During the second stage, the project focuses on developing a handbook providing guidance on how civil society actors can engage in monitoring the judiciary system. During the third stage, the project focuses on raising awareness among relevant stakeholders and the public on the efficacy and quality of the judiciary system.
Organization’s name: Community Development Center “Today for the Future” (RJ2-54)
Project title: JUSTICE not Just-Ice!
The road to an efficient and fair judiciary system
Location: Puka
Amount: EUR 22,000.00
Implementation time: – 12 months
Overall objective: Monitoring and assessing compliance to the procedures, quality of services and efficiency of Puka District Court, and improve information and awareness to disadvantaged groups of women and youth on rule of law.
Puka is, geographically speaking, a remote and difficult region, which affects the local economy and enormous challenges including Rule of Law. In addition, criminal themes such as cannabis, delinquencies, and trafficking, domestic violence are present in region and especially women and minors are the most vulnerable targets/victims. More than 200 civil and penal cases are not yet resolved and almost 60% of them results with a length of proceedings for more than 2 years, while many court decisions are resent from Appeal Court for re-proceeding. One of reasons is the frequent change of court personnel over the last years.
The project is two-fold:
- Monitoring and assessing the judiciary system in terms of quality, efficiency of services, institutional management and working closely especially with coordinator for the right of information, in order to raise the capacities on application of standards on public information, visibility, transparency, as well in dealing with the public groups, especially those disadvantaged.
- The other part of work is building up the trust of the most disadvantaged groups of women and minors toward judiciary system, through information and awareness activities.
-This twofold action of bringing together the court and people will contribute to improvement of judiciary system’s quality and efficiency and will help women and children understanding procedures and gaining trust in rule of law.
