TIRANA/GENEVA (24 November 2022) – Albania’s efforts to include women in government deserve recognition, but the country can do more to promote the participation of persons with disabilities and rural communities in political, economic and social development, a UN expert said today. At the end of a 10-day visit to the country, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development Saad Alfarargi, commended efforts by the Albanian Government to ensure women’s participation in governing and decision-making bodies, including the central government and civil service. “Albania has achieved impressive progress in increasing the role of women in decision-making bodies,” Alfarargi said. “The country is also on its way to achieve a high level of women’s representation at management levels in the corporate sector,” he added. The Special Rapporteur said he was pleased to hear from civil society organisations that they had been included in discussions leading to the formulation of domestic development policies and legislation. “I am even more encouraged to learn that the participation of civil society in consultation processes related to the elaboration of national and local strategies and action plans, as well as budgeting, is mandated by several pieces of legislation,” the expert said. Alfarargi highlighted remaining challenges concerning the inclusion of persons with disabilities in economic, social, political and cultural development, including the widespread lack of accessibility to public services and low representation in governance. “I am also concerned that, despite the efforts of the government, the development of rural communities is lagging behind, leading to widespread poverty, unemployment and marginalisation of people living in remote and rural areas,” the UN expert said. The Special Rapporteur’s detailed report on his visit and recommendations will be presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2023. ENDS Mr. Saad Alfarargi (Egypt) was designated as the first Special Rapporteur on the right to development by the Human Rights Council in 2017. Mr. Alfarargi served as Ambassador Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva (1998-2012); Regional Director for Arab States, Assistant Administrator, UNDP, New York (1995-1997); Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt (1993-1995); Chief of the President Office for Economic Affairs, Cairo (1991-1994); and Ambassador Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva(1983-1987). He holds BSc. and MSc. in Political Science from Cairo University, and a degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics. The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. UN Human Rights, Country Page — Albania For more information and press inquiries, please contact: in Albania, Ms Nora Kushti +355 692090253/nora.kushti@undp.org), in Geneva: Ms Antoanela Pavlova (antoanela.pavlova@un.org) or write to hrc-sr-development@un.org. Renato de Souza (renato.rosariodesouza@un.org) or Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts. Concerned about the world we live in? Then stand up for someone"s rights today. #Standup4humanrights and visit the website at http://www.standup4humanrights.org