During Enver Hoxha leadership communist Albania was labeled as one of the most repressive countries in East Europe, however, from 1992 under the leadership of Democratic Party several liberalizing reforms had been conducted.
Human trafficking
There has been a growing awareness of human trafficking as a human rights issue in Europe. The end of communism has contributed to an increase in human trafficking, with the majority of victims being women forced into prostitution. Albania is a country of origin and country of transit for persons, primarily women and children, trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The Albanian government has shown some commitment to combat trafficking but has been criticised for not fully complying with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and failing to develop effective measures in witness protection.
Torture and Death by the Authorities
Since the beginning of 1994, Amnesty International has received reports of incidents in which members of the Albanian police are alleged to have ill-treated people during arrest or detention, some even died due to this treatment. Detainees are reported frequently to have suffered injuries, such as bruising, broken teeth or cuts which have needed medical treatment or even admission to hospital. Some cases of ill-treatment have amounted to torture. Many of these violations have been directed at members or supporters of the Socialist Party. Other victims include homosexuals, members of the Greek minority and former political prisoners. Prosecution of police officers for torture or ill-treatment appears to be rare. Also, Amnesty International mention that torture and ill-treatment of detainees are common in Albania even today.
Nearly 60% of women in rural areas suffer physical or psychological violence and nearly 8% are victims of sexual violence. Protection orders are often violated. In 2014 the Albanian Helsinki Committee reported that the number of female murder victims is still high. The Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination has raised concerns regarding the family registration law that discriminates against women. As a result heads of households, who are overwhelmingly men have the right to change family residency without their partners’ permission.
Violence against children
In 2015 UNICEF reported that 77% of children have been subjected to some form of violent punishment at home. Hundreds of children are being forced to beg or subjected to other forms of forced labour within the country and even abroad.
Revenge Attacks
At least 70 families are in a self-imposed confinement due to fear of revenge attacks.
Human rights in Albania are violated by the Government which have targeted the Greek minority population via police and secret service according to Human Rights organisations. Greek communities have been targeted by development projects and had their homes demolished in alleged ethnic targeting of Northern Epirus Greeks from Southern Albania, where homes are systematically demolished. Also, according to Amnesty International there were cases of mistreatment of members of Greek minority by the authorities. Also, the ethnic Greek minority complained about the government’s unwillingness to recognize ethnic Greek towns outside communist-era “minority zones,” to utilize Greek in official documents and on public signs in ethnic Greek areas, or to include more ethnic Greeks in public administration. In 2008, the government inserted several new road signs in the Himara district written in Albanian and English but not Greek. The ethnic Greek mayor of Himara ordered the removal of these signs and the government charged him of destruction of government property. The 2012 USA annual report mention that the emergence of strident nationalist groups like the Red and Black Alliance increased ethnic tensions with the Greek minority groups.
