Rruga “Pjeter Bogdani”
Tirane
Tirana
Albania
- Gender
- Human rights
- Youth and education
The Centre “Shelter Edlira Haxhiymeri" (SEH) is a residential center for victims of domestic violence and gender-based violence since 1998, registered with the legal bodies of the Albanian state. The center offers services in accordance with the standards of social care services for victims of domestic violence, in residential, public and non-public centers approved by the Albanian State. The executive director of the center is Mrs. Marsela Allmuça. SEH employs a team of professionals with a long history of working with children, women and other marginalized groups. The organizational chart of the organization consists of the management board (which has a decision-making role), the executive director, financier, project manager and the staff providing psycho-social services.
SEH's mission is to address gender-based violence through supporting victims of domestic violence, raising public awareness, building capacity among professionals, advocacy and contributing to national research to better serve a healthy society and not violent. Objectives; • Provision of direct services to survivors of GBV (women, girls and children); • Strengthening the capacities of professionals/service providers for a better response to GBV and prevention of abuse; • Increasing the awareness of young people and changing the mentality and behavior towards young people regarding the treatment of GBV; • Lobbying and advocacy to support the improvement of legislation and practice by public and non-public institutions; • Research and scientific research on social problems affecting the development of children, the lives of women and girls and gender issues
1998 - ongoing: Providing support to victims of domestic violence Center "Strehëza Edlira Haxhiymeri" Supporting Agencies/Donors: ICCO, IAMANEH 2004-2005: National Task Force. Revision of the law on "Measures for the prevention of domestic violence". Supporting Agencies/Donors: Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Equal Opportunities. 2019: Project "Advocacy for increased cooperation between police structures and social services for the treatment of DHF and DHBGJ in Tirana" Supporting agencies/Donors: AËEN, Swedish Embassy. 2019: Project: "Domestic Violence Belongs to Everyone - Empowerment for Coordinated Intervention", Supporting Agencies/Donors: SCPA, Swedish Embassy 2019-2020: Project: "Empowerment of victims of domestic violence through rehabilitation and reintegration programs at the "Strehëza Edlira Haxhiymeri" Center. Supporting agencies/Donors: KMOP, EU delegation 2019 -2022: Project: "Providing protection and empowerment of women and girls, including LBT (Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual) women." Supporting Agencies/Donors: UN TRUST FUND 2019 – 2020: Project "Empowerment of families - Protection of Children" - Family Community Center "Add Old". Supporting Agencies/Donors: SHIS, EUD 2020-2021: Project "Strengthening the capacities of service providers for women survivors of all forms of violence in Kurbin and Lezhë municipalities. Supporting donor: UN Women 2020: Project "Improving the situation of victims of domestic violence during and after the Covid-19 emergency in Tirana with a special focus on rural areas". Supporting donor: GIZ/ProSEED 2020: Project: "Addressing gender-based violence during COVID-19 in Tirana and Lezhë". Supporting donor: UNDP 2020-2021: Project: "Addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) during Covid-19 through Empowering Potential Victims of GBV". Supporting donor: Small Grants Program/US Embassy 2021: Project: "Treatment of GBV in rural areas by providing specialized support services for GBV-GBV and work for gender transformation". Supporting donor: UNDP 2021-2022: Project: "Strengthening the coordinated response of service providers from the police, health, education and local government sectors for the management of cases related to all forms of DHBGJ, in the areas affected by the earthquake of the year 2019". Supporting donor: UN Women 2022 - Project: "Engagement of young people from rural areas in addressing gender-based violence", Supporting Donor: Tirana Youth Capital Program. Main activities: 1. Supporting victims of domestic violence (women, girls and children) in a crisis situation: 2. Supporting children to overcome the crisis situation; 3. Empowering women, survivors of domestic violence, to face and handle other life situations after leaving the shelter: 4. Preventing women and children from being revictimized by any other form of abusive life style/situation; 5. Increasing community and public awareness of issues of gender-based violence and gender equality: 6. Sensitization and capacity building of professionals from various fields and institutions to better respond to the needs of survivors of domestic violence:
Our contribution as part of the ALF network will be important in bringing gender issues and violence into focus and working together to address them. SEH, together with other members, will help to address issues of gender-based violence, as one of the serious problems in Albanian society. It will also bring its experience as an organization that has been operating for 25 years in the Albanian reality, with the challenges encountered and the successes achieved throughout these decades.
Being part of the Anna Lindh Foundation network - the Albanian Network will be a very good opportunity for our center to develop the cooperation network. Also, this will be helpful for the improvement of the center's capacities and empowerment, as part of a wider group.