The Committee of Experts of the Convention “On the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances” concluded an examination of Albania’s initial report on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on 24-25 May 2018. On 4 June 2018, the CED Committee approved and published its concluding remarks regarding the implementation of the Convention by Albania.

Our country was represented by a delegation consisting of members from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, the General Directorate of State Police, the General Directorate of Prisons of the Prosecutor’s Office of the First Instance Court of Serious Crimes, The State Authority for Former State Security Documents, and the RS Mission at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

In its opening statement, Mrs. Artemis Dralo, Vice-Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, underlined that Albania placed great importance on the reporting process as a tool to ensure compliance with international obligations.  As a party to the Convention since 2007, Albania was committed to improving the legal framework for the promotion and protection of human rights, including on enforced disappearances.Enforced disappearance was defined as a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, in accordance with amendments adopted in 2013. During the reporting period, a series of measures are undertaken to improve the legal framework, in accordance with the obligations under the Convention.

During the presentation and the dialogue with Committee, the representatives of the institutions informed on the measures to ensure the protection of human rights and in particular those deprived of their liberty, the right of victims to know the truth about the circumstances of an enforced disappearance, the right of victims to justice, and the measures, to investigate cases, and bring perpetrators to justice; the right to an effective remedy, and compensation; preservation of historical memory, including measures aimed at preventing further recurrence of enforced disappearances that took place under the Communism regime.

During the dialogue the Experts inquired about the measures undertaken by Albania in implementing the provisions of the Convention on Enforced Disappearance. The Committee Experts, expressed the appreciation for the fruitful dialogue of the state delegation with the Committee, the openness demonstrated, as well as the additional information on specific questions.

Deputy Minister Mrs. Dralo, in her final remarks, thanked the Committee Experts for their recommendations and suggestions, and assured them that these recommendations will be implemented by Albania, by improving legal, institutional and policy framework in compliance with the Convention on Enforced Disappearances