AHC

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AHC mission

The AHC’s main mission is the observation of respect for the freedoms and rights of citizens and the reaction to violations for the purpose of their reinstatement; sensitising citizens about the protection of their freedoms and rights; improving legislation and the practice of law enforcement through opponence and recommendations in the phases of the drafting of laws as well as of their enforcement. 

Seminar

“ Monitoring the practical implementation

of the National Strategy of Roma Minority”

On the date of July 5, 2006, the Foundation “Open Society for Albania ” (SOROS) in cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) and the Center for Child Rights Protection in Albania (CRCA) arranged the seminar with the topic: ” Presenting the Monitoring Findings of the National Strategy” On the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma Minority in Albania”.

In the context of the project launched by the SOROS Foundation, experts in this Foundation, of AHC and CRCA undertook the initiative to monitor the implementation of the National Strategy “On the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma Minority in Albania”, and in conclusion to draft a progress report about the period 2003-2005 regarding the implementation of this strategy. 

 The monitoring aimed at analyzing the fulfillment of the objectives and the expected measures in the Strategy, of the concrete steps taken form the state, central and local institutions and other actors in its implementation[1]. Moreover, the seminars made known some recommendations about the improvement to be made for the efficient implementation of the National Strategy.

The target -domains of the monitoring of the National Strategy of Roma Minority were as follows:

·        Education and schooling;

·        Cultural heritage and family;

·        Economy, employment, poverty reduction and social protection;

·        Health and infrastructure;

·        Public order, justice, civil administration

In the table there were presented the achievements, problems, the identified shortcomings, reasons for the non-achievement of the expected objectives about the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma minority as well as there were presented the relevant recommendations for the local , central power bodies, Roma organizations and other organizations operating in the field of human rights.

Throughout the discussions it was highlighted that despite the existence of a legal basis almost sufficient in this field, the implementation of the National Strategy “On the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma minority in Albania”, has encountered numerous difficulties and has progressed slowly; there have been few and modest achievements. Some of the main conclusions that were drawn in the end of the monitoring were as follows:

• The Objectives and the measures foreseen in the Strategy are not realistic, clear and measurable.

• The Strategy lacks the success indicators to measure and assess the achieved results as well as the adoption of a concrete action plan in the respective fields with the aim of its aggregation in details with well defined responsibilities about all the foreseen objectives and measures.

• The responsible state institutions for the implementation of the Strategy have not been efficient in taking the concrete measures and have not applied their responsibilities adequately.

• There is identified a lack of effective involvement on the part of the state institutions especially the local power bodies in the implementation of the strategy.

• There is identified lack of cooperation and effective coordination between the central and local state bodies about the exchange of information related to the achieved and unachieved measures as regards the implementation of the strategy, between the actors of the civil society operating in the field of minorities.

• Also, the lack of the appropriate capacities in the Roma Organizations as well as their failure to be involved in the implementation of this Strategy affects the non-achievement of the required results.

•  There is identified a lack of coordination and cooperation in the implementation of this strategy and other national or local strategies adopted by the Albanian government.

Soon, the complete and final report will be drafted containing the findings and the concrete recommendations about the Monitoring of the National Strategy” On the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma Minority in Albania”, that will be published on our web site.