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Coexistence and
tolerance toward one another -
An important
factor for a more civilized society
For 40 years now, March 21st[1]
has been the international day against discrimination in general and racial
discrimination in particular. The European network against nationalism, racism,
and fascism, and in support of migrants and refugees[2]
declared March 20 – 26 the week against discrimination with the motto "Speak Out
- Against Racism”[3].
The Albanian Helsinki Committee joined this international
campaign to sensitize the public and state institutions about the fight that
needs to be waged against discrimination in general and the racial one in
particular.
In the context of this week, AHC organized several events
with a view to sensitizing the young generation and the need to prevent such
cases of open or hidden discrimination in the society.
AHC organized sensitizing meetings[4]
at two Tirana schools, the "Bajram Curri" eight-year school, and the “Petro Nini
Luarasi” general high school. Both schools hosted a competition for the best
creation in prose, poetry, and painting with the motto: "All different, all
equal."
The jury consisted of well-known name in the field of art,
Mr. Dhimitër Xhuvani and Mr. Xhevahir Spahiu, evaluated the best creations and
winners received gifts of artistic books by well-known Albanian authors.
AHC organized a seminar on "All different, all equal" in
these schools. The seminar addressed issues of discrimination in general,
children's rights, and cases of their discrimination, minority rights,
particularly the Roma minority, and the Egyptian community, problems of
discrimination toward them. AHC also presented conclusions of its monitoring
missions regarding education and cultural heritage of the Roma minority.
AHC also donated its latest publications to the libraries of
these schools.
In the context of the anti-discrimination week, AHC organized
a seminar in the auditorium of the Faculty of Law[5]
with students of Law and Social Sciences. The seminar addressed issues of
discrimination seen from the standpoint of the European Convention, issues of
discrimination at work, which was an issue raised in the request to the
Constitutional Court[6]
to annul Council of Ministers' decisions on avoiding nepotism in the public
administration.
AHC disseminated publications on human rights and donated a
series of AHC publications to enrich the libraries of the schools and the
Faculty of Law where the seminars were organized.
During the week, activities against discrimination continued
with the publication of a story in daily newspaper Telegraf[7],
featuring some of the conclusions of AHC's study on the situation of the Roma
minority in Albania. The story looked at the Roma minority from different
standpoints, regarding the implementation of the strategy on Roma by the state,
their education situation, family, culture, and tradition, youth integration
into the Albanian society, sports activities, the role of the media, etc.
Another story was prepared on conclusions of European Commission against Racism
and Intolerance (ECRI) reports and initiatives the Government of Albania should
undertake.
Second-year students of the Faculty of Law voluntarily
undertook monitoring missions and met with Roma students and parents. They
expressed their views and impressions in a number of essays. A special AHC
newsletter with essays by some Faculty of Law students was prepared and
published online.[8]
As an organization striving for the protection of and respect
for human rights, AHC will continue to contribute to improving the human rights
situation in Albania and prevent discrimination in any form it appears.
AHC would like to thank the Tirana District Education
Directory, the school directories, and the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Law
for their fruitful collaboration in carrying out these activities.
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