“ Women Can Do It” October 2006 - April 2007 Supported by : Norwegian People’s Aid

1. This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation • In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button • Select “Meeting Minder” • Select the “Action Items” tab • Type in action items as they come up • Click OK to dismiss this box • This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered. “Women Can Do It”October 2006 - April 2007Supported by: Norwegian People’s Aid Implementing Organizations: Independent Forum of the Albanian Woman & Millennium Women Network

2. Background • Hot political situations, from which political forces try to benefit, and in which democratic norms have not been established yet. • Different policies reinforcing gender disparities from the way they address or not addressed these issues in policies. • Women’s status has been socially and politically inching backwards & forwards

3. Women’s percentage in the parliament and local level • In the general elections of 2005: 7.1 % female representation in the parliament compared to 5.7 % in 2001. • In the local elections of 2007: 1.5 % female mayors in municipalities, 27.27 % in municipalities and 1 % commune mayorscompared to 0 % in municipalities, 27.27 % in municipalitiesand 1.5 % in communesin 2003. • 3 % of female registered candidates in 2007compared to 4.3 % in 2003.  

4. 10-15 % of female party membership in 2005/2006 compared to 40 % in 1997. • 27.5 % of the members with a voting right in the Voting Central Commissions in 2007 compared to 8% in 2001 • 3 % of representatives of both political subjects and candidates in these commissions were females. • 68 % of observes coming from civil society during the local elections of 2007 were females.

5. National Gender Equality Mechanisms Parliamentarian sub commission for minors and equal opportunities is made up of 7 members, a chairperson, a deputy chair person, a secretary and four members • In 1997 - 2001, a sub commission for youth and gender equality. • In 2001 – 2005, the sub commission for gender Equality. • In 2005-2009, the sub commission for minors and equal opportunities.

6. The Department of equal opportunity policies It is made up of 3 specialists on gender equality, technical secretariat of the National Council for disabeld people concerns, the chair of the sector and 2 specialists. Mission Design/develop policies that promote equality regarding gender equality, equality/inequality, ethincs minorities’concerns etc. It aims to promote gender equality and women’s participation in economic, political and social life.

7. Responsibilities • Propose initiatives and make analysis regarding equal opportunities in the process of development. • Observe the implementation of agreements and international acts on the fileds it covers. • Formulate policies for equal opportunities from gender prospective and human rights protection for vulnerable categories, cooperate with active non profit organizations and financially support some of their activities.

8. Legislation regarding women • Article 18 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination due to gender and provides constitutional legal guarantees for equality. • According to Albanian legislation both sexes enjoy equal treatment in the constitutional right. • In addition to the Constitution, international agreements (already ratified), are considered the second best legal resources. • Gender equality law since 2004.

9. Direct project beneficiaries • 310 training participants (IFAW) • 245 participants (MWN) - Local Government/Communities - Government institutions - Youth from High Schools and Universities - Youth Cultural Centers - Women’s NGOs - Women Candidates in the local elections and potential women - Local branches of political parties, Women’s Political Forums

10. PROJECT OBJECTIVES Millennium • Encourage media increase its contribution to • gender parity in the governance. • Empower elected women through capacity building. IFAW -Raise women’s awareness as well as the political environment for the quota 30% in the future elections - Promote positive coverage by the media on gender issues and women leadership - Stimulate a positive social attitude towards women’s leadership among the public in general

11. PROJECT ACTIVITIES - Millennium • Activities a) 2 two day training courses of journalists coming from the private and public media of Tirana and other cities of the country b) 8 two day training seminars of women candidates and municipality council members • Actions • 3 TV talks shows • Competition among journalists for the best essay on gender issues. c)Monitoring of the media.

12. PROJECT ACTIVITIES – IFAW Activities • 9 training seminars Exchange Visit in Kosovo Conference for Women in Leadership Actions • TV debate • Trainings evaluation- Project evaluation

13. OTHER RESULTS • Analysis of current state of gender equality in the media and its readiness for gender mainstreaming in its programs. • The growing presence of women in leading/key positions of local governance in the media and their contribution to the visibility of women’s issues in it. • Education and capacity building of the media regarding gender issues, and the integration of these issues in their programs. • The increase of the women’s interest in politics. • The improvement of women’s image in the media. • The increase in number of women in local government councils.

14. RECOMMNEDTIONS • 1) Change of the electoral system, quota bill included. • 2) Enhancing participation of women in development through mediatic enabling environment 3) Collection of gender information and gender statistical data. 4) Introduction of this information and data in the web page / other electronic communication means 5) Lobbying and advocating for the involvement of gender equality in the mandatory curricula, etc. 6) National actions on community’ bases.