Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Women and girls from the Shkoza community marked the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by learning how property rights protect dignity, security and independence. Organised by the Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS) with the support of the action Improving the protection of the right to property and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania (D-REX III), the session highlighted that access to property is not only a legal entitlement of Albanian women and girls, but also a fundamental human right and a key source of empowerment for families.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Giulia Re, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, stressed that property rights can shape a person’s security, dignity and overall well-being. She noted that when women understand and exercise these rights, they strengthen both their independence and their communities. Ms. Re also highlighted the value of practical support tools such as the TLAS-run Helpline on property rights, supported by the D-REX III Action, which has already assisted more than one thousand people across Albania. The activity was also greeted by Mr. Aldo Aga, Director of the Community Centre of Shkoza, and Ms. Renata Cenko, Executive Director of the TLAS.

TLAS lawyers and legal experts presented the national legal framework and explained how limited access to information and documentation can expose women to economic forms of gender-based violence. Participants, including women, men, and Roma and Egyptian community members, shared their personal experiences related to inheritance procedures, unclear property documents, and property registration or compensation mechanisms. The discussion offered a safe space for questions and exchange, with many participants noting that having trusted legal support available directly within their communities makes their rights feel more accessible and achievable.

This activity was organised by the action Improving the protection of the right to property and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania (D-REX III), under the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye programme, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS) and the Community Centre of Shkoza.