The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the fourth periodic report of Albania, with Committee Experts welcoming the State’s efforts to promote the employment of the Roma and Egyptian national minorities, while raising questions on labour conditions and the education of Roma and Egyptian children. Nadir Adilov, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said the Committee welcomed the State party"s initiatives to develop incentive and support policies for the Roma and Egyptian national minorities to promote their employment, as well as qualifications, training and integration into the labour market. Mr. Adilov asked how the State party was protecting the right to work of informal workers in sectors such as agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and construction? What measures were being taken to improve labour productivity? Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair and Cluster Leader, said according to available data, 60 per cent of school aged pupils from Roma and Egyptian minorities were out of school, with girls facing a particular challenge. Also, school segregation seemed to be a systematic problem across Albania, with 90 per cent of Roma students attending segregated education institutions. What measures were in place to address school segregation in a coordinated and systemic manner? Could information be provided on the learning of minority languages throughout the country? Vasilika Hysi, Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, presenting the report, said that in line with the approach and recommendations of the Committee at the last review, Albania had adopted several laws and strategies for the implementation of Covenant rights. The Albanian Government was committed to guaranteeing inclusive education for Roma and Egyptian minorities through the National Strategy on Education 2022–2026 and the National Action Plan for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation 2021–2025. The amendments to the law on employment promotion, approved in 2023, included provisions for vulnerable groups such as Roma and Egyptians. The delegation said the Labour Inspectorate performed around 10,000 inspections on an annual basis. These could be triggered by a request or an accident. Around 800 complaints were received on an annual basis. In 2023, 184 accidents in the workplace were registered. In the last two years, with significant effort and the support of International Labour Organization, Albania had developed two platforms, one of which guided the labour inspectors in knowledge, and the other was a risk assessment system. In 2023, 1,100 inspections had been performed in the construction sector, which was considered high risk and therefore was a key focus. The delegation said after the approval of the law on national minorities, four by-laws were approved, which served to equip students with free textbooks and ensured the development of classes for national minorities, among other requirements. Following the recommendation of the Committee of National Minorities, the Bosnian language had been incorporated in the area where members of this group were concentrated. At the University of Tirana, there was a department for the Greek language. In concluding remarks, Preeti Saran, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Albania, thanked the delegation from Albania for participating in the constructive dialogue. The responses had provided a better understanding of the challenges which Albania faced in the fulfilment of the provisions of the Covenant. In her concluding remarks, Ms. Hysi expressed appreciation for the open and constructive dialogue with the Committee. The Albanian Government was committed to improving its policies and would take necessary measures to strengthen its legislative framework on the Covenant. The delegation of Albania consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Education and Sport; the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation; the Ministry of Health and Social Protection; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Tourism and Environment; the State Labour and Social Services Inspectorate; the Institute of Statistics; the Committee for National Minorities; and the Permanent Mission of Albania to the United Nations Office at Geneva. All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here. The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon, Tuesday 17 September, to begin its consideration of the seventh periodic report of Cyprus (E/C.12/CYP/7). Report The Committee has before it the fourth periodic report of Albania (E/C.12/ALB/4). Presentation of Report VASILIKA HYSI, Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said that in line with the approach and recommendations of the Committee at the last review, Albania had adopted several laws and strategies for the implementation of Covenant rights. The access to legal aid guaranteed by the State was significantly improved. There were 20 operational centres, 15 non-profit organizations, and 12 law clinics at higher education institutions offering primary legal aid. In 2023 the number of beneficiaries of primary legal aid was 7,008 persons, compared to 21 people in 2019. On climate change, the Albanian Government had developed an action plan for increasing the generation capacity of renewable energy sources by installing new capacities of solar and wind power plants. Progress had been made relating to the implementation of the recommendations issued by the Commissioner for the Protection from Discrimination and the People’s Advocate. Both independent authorities had effective collaboration. The National Action Plan for the Equality, Inclusion, and Participation of Roma and Egyptians (2021–2025) targeted education, justice, employment, social housing, health, social services, and societal participation. The Albanian Government was committed to guaranteeing inclusive education for Roma and Egyptian minorities through the National Strategy on Education 2022–2026 and the National Action Plan for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation 2021–2025. The amendments to the law on employment promotion, approved in 2023, included provisions for vulnerable groups such as Roma and Egyptians. In 2021, the National Action Plan on Disability 2021–2025 was approved. The training and professional development of assistant teachers was enhanced to support inclusive and quality education for children with disabilities. In 2021, the new National Strategy for Gender Equality 2021–2030 was approved. In 2022, Albania ratified the International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment. The State Police had upgraded its data processing system for domestic and gender-based violence statistics, and implemented a risk assessment analysis for handling all domestic violence cases. The law on asylum outlined the process for family reunification for refugees and individuals with complementary protection. The National Agenda for Children’s Rights 2021–2026 aimed to promote comprehensive services and protection for children, including efforts to eliminate violence against children, especially those in street situations or economically exploited. The National Health Strategy 2021–2030 aimed to increase public health funding, improve service quality, and expand health programmes. Key initiatives included safe vaccinations, population-based screening for non-communicable diseases, and the rehabilitation of over 400 primary health centres by 2025. Universal health coverage was a central goal, guiding efforts to strengthen the health system, improve emergency response, and enhance digital health. The Government was expanding health packages to enhance access to medical treatment, especially for vulnerable groups. In 2022, two new guidelines were introduced that defined subjects taught in both Albanian and minority languages in basic education and outlined the teaching plans specifically for national minorities in basic education. Support in education of children from national minority groups included legal guarantees for students from national minorities to learn the Albanian language, as well as their own language, history, and culture. Schools with minority students promoted their language, culture, and traditions. Ms. Hysi concluded by stating that the Albanian delegation looked forward to a constructive dialogue with the Committee. Questions by a Committee Expert PREETI SARAN, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Albania, asked for specific examples of cases in which Covenant rights had been invoked or applied by the courts. How was the direct applicability and enforceability of the Covenant ensured in domestic courts? Had special education and training programmes been undertaken for members of the judiciary? Albania was a potential candidate country for membership of the European Union. What challenges had the State party faced in dealing with the accession process? Did Albania have a timeframe for ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Covenant? Had sufficient funds been allocated to make the free legal aid system accessible and available to those in a difficult economic situation, especially children and marginalised and disadvantaged groups? What steps had been taken to create awareness and information about this system, especially for women and girls located in rural areas? Had sufficient human, technical and financial resources been provided to national human rights institutions? The Committee had seen reports that the level of cooperation by the local public administration, including the provision of information to the People’s Advocate, was low. What steps had been taken to address the recommendations of the People’s Advocate and to ensure it could effectively and independently discharge its mandate in full compliance with the Paris Principles? What steps had been taken to increase transparency of media financing and improve the working conditions for journalists? What had been done to prevent intimidation and ensure effective judicial follow-up in cases of attacks against journalists? There was a low level of funding allocated to essential public services, such as education, healthcare, and social protection. What steps were proposed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending? What steps had Albania taken to address regional disparities, especially for the development of remote and rural communities which were lagging behind? Main concerns related to access to public services such as adequate health care, education and social protection for the vulnerable sectors of the communities. What steps had been taken to address these concerns? What steps had the State party taken to address the growing gap in economic and social inequality for those most affected by risk of poverty? As a disaster-prone region, Albania remained vulnerable to natural disasters. What measures had the State party taken to update its national strategy on climate change, and to prepare for reducing natural disaster related risks? How had Albania addressed the key challenges of water and air pollution, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and waste management? How was it ensured that women were included within these policies and strategies? What concrete measures had Albania taken to minimise the discrimination affecting the Roma and Egyptian minorities? Albania’s population growth moved from being one of the highest in Europe to negative growth in the last 30 years. Albania continued to face significant migration trends, with a considerable portion of its population seeking opportunities abroad. What steps had the State party taken to meet these human resource challenges? Albania had experienced an influx of migrants and asylum seekers, primarily from neighbouring regions and conflict-affected countries. What steps had the State party taken to integrate immigrants into society and to address the migration challenges, especially the protection and integration of unaccompanied minors and survivors of trafficking? Albania’s gender pay gap was the result of women’s lower participation in the labour market. According to the World Bank, men and women had a 14.9 percentage point gap in labour force participation (2023). Legislative amendments from 2018 established the joint registration of marital property. However, men still formally owned most of the private land in the country and according to the World Bank, 90 per cent of women did not own any land registered under their name (2018). What steps had been taken to ensure the equal rights of men and women in this regard? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said there had been 22 cases of discrimination reported in 2022. International treaties which had been ratified sat at an equal level to the Albanian Constitution. In 2022, an agreement had been drawn out which mandated the training of judges, prosecutors and police officers. Training was also carried out on the Covenant and on discrimination against women, including on the Istanbul Convention and the Convention on the Elimination on Discrimination against Women. The budget for legal aid had been significantly increased in recent years, from around 200,000 euros to over one million euros. The People’s Advocate independently carried out its duties and had its own budget. The Commissioner had a separate budget. The scope of the People’s Advocate was only the public sector, while the Commissioner covered both the public and private sectors. There had been issues with registration for non-governmental organizations. For this reason, a reform had been undertaken in 2021 to simplify the process. In July 2023, the process for an electronic registration system had been initiated and this was ongoing. This year, a detailed bulletin was published, outlining the ownership structure of the different media operators in the country, as a first step to ensure proper transparency of financing. In 2023 and 2024, there were 26 inspections undertaken of media entities. The inspections had come about due to complaints from journalists on violations of their labour rights. In 2024, seven complaints had been received. Roundtables had been organised in cooperation with the media authorities, emphasising the importance of working conditions and the rights derived from the Labour Code. For the period 2024-2026, a slight increase was planned for expenditure in health, education and social protection. In 2023, 17 houses were renovated for Roma and Egyptian minorities. Social rents were offered by the Government for this group, with up to 80 per cent of rent paid. Three projects had been financed to promote the values of Roma and Egyptian cultures and traditions. Albania recognised the risks posed by climate change and its vulnerability to natural disasters, leading to key updates in national climate legislation. Albania had developed a national action plan which focused on measures addressing agriculture and tourism. So far, eight municipalities had drafted and improved their adaptation plans. In response to frequent national disasters, including floods and earthquakes, Albania had strengthened its disaster risk reduction framework, aligning it with the climate change strategy. This included investing in risk assessment and contingency planning. Efforts had been made to diversify energy sources in the country. New capacities of solar and wind power plants had been installed. Questions by Committee Experts A Committee Expert asked what measures had been taken by the State to ensure that the recommendations handed down by the treaty bodies were implemented? PREETI SARAN, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Albania, asked what challenges Albania had faced in trying to harmonise its domestic legislation to the high standards of the European Union? There had been discriminatory hate speech in the media on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, particularly online. Had efforts been made to ensure this was done away with? What had been done to track discrimination against all marginalised groups. The Committee believed transgender people faced significant barriers to their economic, social and cultural rights. What steps had been taken to address this, including by providing gender-affirming care? A Committee Expert asked what Albania’s position was on the Optional Protocol to the Covenant? The Optional Protocol provided an option for international appeal. What discussions had been held in this regard? Could a lawyer come before a national judge and directly invoke provisions of the Covenant? Could the provisions enshrined within the Covenant be invoked in domestic courts? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said the Albanian Government was committed to curbing and controlling irregular migration, and a document had been drafted in this regard, with the contribution of many ministries and independent institutions. Both Italy and Albania had committed to a migration policy through a protocol. Under the protocol, the Albanian State provided two separate areas for usage by the Italian side. A new law paid great attention to hate speech in broadcasts. The new Broadcasting Code approved in July 2023 was enriched with new principles highlighting the need for alignment regarding best international practice in regard to hate speech. There had been a successful collaboration with TikTok which consisted of deleting videos containing hate speech, discrimination and sexism. A module for education against hate speech was included in the modules for education. Victims of human trafficking were provided with educational facilities in primary and secondary school and also to attend university education. A programme had been implemented for learning in the workplace for job-seeking, vulnerable persons. Roma and Egyptians constituted the target group to benefit from vocational training, and benefitted from pre-employment programmes. The vocational training law contained a key focus of social inclusion. There were vocational training centres for Roma and Egyptian students, who benefited from free books and scholarships. These were also provided to all marginalised groups. Questions by a Committee Expert NADIR ADILOV, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said the Committee welcomed the State party"s initiatives to develop incentive and support policies for the Roma and Egyptian national minorities to promote their employment, as well as qualifications, training and integration into the labour market. According to the Committee’s information, young people still found it difficult to enter the labour market. What measures was the State party taking to match education with labour market requirements? How was the State party protecting the right to work of informal workers in sectors such as agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and construction? What measures were being taken to improve labour productivity? How did the State party ensure equal pay for work of equal value? According to the Committee’s information, the legal minimum wage was around 270 euros. Salaries were the not same as in the rest of Europe, and the large wage gap remained the main factor for labour emigration. What measures were being taken by the State party to reduce this gap and reduce the labour emigration? Could further details be provided on how the State party guaranteed the right to form and join trade unions, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to strike, including for migrant workers without permanent residence permits? Were the rights of trade unions extended to foreign workers who did not have a residence permit? Did the current existing system provide full benefits coverage? Did the cash benefits system apply to workers in the informal economy? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said the Labour Inspectorate performed around 10,000 inspections on an annual basis. These could be triggered by a request or an accident. Around 800 complaints were received on an annual basis. In 2023, 184 accidents in the workplace were registered. In the last two years, with significant effort and the support of International Labour Organization, Albania had developed two platforms, one of which guided the labour inspectors in knowledge, and the other was a risk assessment system. In 2023, 1,100 inspections had been performed in the construction sector, which was considered high risk and therefore was a key focus. The right to form a trade union was enshrined within the Labour Code, as was the right to strike, which was also guaranteed by the Constitution. The minimum salary in Albania had increased to 400 euros. The gender pay gap was improving, and in the last year had improved by 0.6 per cent compared to 2022. Questions by a Committee Expert PREETI SARAN, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Albania, said the Committee had received information that the enforcement of the minimum wage regulation remained weak. Had any steps been taken regarding the enforcement of the minimum wages? What steps and measures were being taken by the State party to address cross border trafficking. What steps had been taken to facilitate work permits for migrant workers? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said there was a methodology in place about the minimum cost of living. The minimum wage had had a significant increase in terms of ratio. The State was committed to increase the levels of declarations of full payment in the banking system. This was the current hot topic of the formal economy. The law on social housing allocated at least five per cent of housing to Roma and Egyptian minorities. Previously, this requirement had a temporary status under the earlier law but was not fully integrated. The Ministry of Education had approved specialised guidelines for children who were trafficking victims in schools. For these students, an interdisciplinary commission, consisting of teachers and psycho-social service staff, developed an individual plan for supporting each child to learn the Albanian language, as well as for their education. The students received support from psycho-social staff to ensure their wellbeing and integration into the school. Between 2021 and 2022, children returning from conflict zones had been integrated into pre-university education. Questions by Committee Experts LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Vice Chair and Cluster Leader, asked what measures was Albania taking to remove barriers to the birth registration of different communities, including the Roma and Egyptian communities, to avoid issues of statelessness? What access did these groups have to the healthcare system? How did the State guarantee the integration of unaccompanied children who arrived in Albania within the social protection system? What measures was the State taking to prevent and eliminate child labour in areas such as construction and begging? Did parental leave exist? Had there been appropriate refuges put in place for victims of domestic violence? What measures had been made to amend the Penal Code to protect children under the age of 16 from sexual exploitation? How was the implementation of the law on domestic violence ensured? Would the State criminalise femicide and all forms of gender-based violence? What measures had Albania taken to improve access to social housing for marginalised groups? How was discrimination in housing prevented? What specific actions had been taken to ensure women had equal access to property? The State had problems in housing which dated back a long time and were exacerbated by the earthquake. What was being done for marginalised groups? Had minority groups been forcibly evicted from their homes? How did Albania tackle the disproportionate levels of poverty among marginalised groups? How was access to water, sanitation and electricity ensured? Was the State aiming to extend access to healthcare for women in rural areas? What measures were being taken to ensure the free availability of contraception? What measures were in place to improve access to reproductive health services, including abortion? How did the State aim to combat the dramatic rise in deaths connected to HIV? What measures were being taken to extend the risk reduction programmes for drug users? How would Albania tackle the absence of appropriate healthcare services for people living with HIV? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said the principle of equality was fundamental in Albania and applied in all areas of life. The national strategy for gender equality was valid until 2030 and included amendments to the law on gender equality. Civil society had been well represented in the consultation process for the changes in the law, which were important developments for the gender equality situation in Albania. The Government of Albania included many women, including the Deputy Prime Minister. Albania had a national centre for domestic violence, and it was important that social care services were adjusted for the needs of women affected by domestic violence. The national reception centre for victims or potential victims of trafficking was funded by the Government and provided psychological and reintegration support to victims. Further centres had been established through the Social Fund. The assessment for persons with disabilities had been improved in line with World Health Organization standards. Legal aid was provided to persons with disabilities. Legal changes had improved the legal framework for protection against discrimination in Albania. There was a quota in the law for Roma and Egyptian minorities to become beneficiaries of social housing. The national action plan for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons provided actions to combat hate crimes against these persons. Parental leave had been recognised in Albania and the State was increasing efforts to integrate women in the labour market. The health budget of 2024 was 106 per cent higher than the health budget in 2013. Recent legislative amendments ensured anyone who required it could benefit from free health care from general practitioners. The National Health Strategy 2021–2030 contained provisions for improving social health measures. It also contributed to the prevention of HIV, with a focus on the populations most at risk, including sex workers. HIV testing was provided free of charge in every public health unit across the country. The protection of trafficking victims included initial identification, assistance for voluntary return, and shelters, among other measures. Albania had four centres for victims of human trafficking, including the national centre and one especially for children. Since 2019, a programme had been implemented which aimed to improve the realisation of human rights for child victims of trafficking. All activities were carried out with the best interests of the child taken into account. Albania was a country of origin, transit and destination for victims of trafficking. Since 2020, four mobile units had been established in Albania to assist these people. Albania had improved legislation for foreigners and had simplified the process for foreigners to receive their resident permit. Refugees and beneficiaries of temporary protection were guaranteed family reunification under the law. A resident permit for stateless persons was integrated into the law for foreigners. Unaccompanied minors were kept in separate centres from adults. Albania was in the process of revising its Criminal Code. The crime of femicide was considered an aggravating situation and the penalties for this crime were higher. There was a legislative proposal to amend the Criminal Code concerning the sexual abuse of children. Another proposal amending the law on domestic violence was submitted in 2022. The right to strike was granted by the Constitution, and unions had the right to strike to achieve their social and economic demands. Eighteen collective contracts had been concluded at the branch professional level, and a large number were signed at the enterprise level. Seventy-five per cent of employees were covered by collective contracts in the public sector. According to the civil servant law, civil servants had the right to strike. In 2023, there had been a significant decline in unemployed youth in the country to 24 per cent. The youth guarantee scheme was the main tool used by the Government of Albania to provide young people with opportunities for employment and vocational training. The law on employment promotion set mandatory quotas on employers to hire persons with disabilities. The National Agenda for Children’s Rights was the most important strategy in the country and was a comprehensive plan dedicated to the advancement of children’s rights. Children’s health was an important priority for the Government and various programmes were being implemented in this regard, including eye screening and dental care. About 400 health facilities had been improved for children. Child protection units operated in 61 municipalities. The State Agency for Rights and Protection of the Child cooperated with the Labour Inspectorate to combat the phenomenon of child labour. The Social Protection Strategy 2024-2030 was the State’s most recent document on social protection. This served as the national strategy on poverty reduction and covered all vulnerable groups with a gender lens. The development of social care services focused on the social plans of the municipalities. The priorities were persons with disabilities, women, and persons from the Roma and Egyptian minorities. With the project “Leave No One Behind”, new services had been planned to empower vulnerable persons. The provision for parental leave was included in the amendments to the Labour Code in 2015. Each parent was provided with the right to take parental leave, including fathers. In 2023, around 15,000 women benefitted from maternity leave. In 2023 and until September 2024, there had been no request submitted to the asylum sector for reunification. The population at risk of being poor had decreased by 16 per cent as a result of social protection transfers and disability payments, among other financial measures. The law on social assistance was the primary law which regulated social payments in Albania and also specified the categories in need. Questions by Committee Experts PREETI SARAN, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Albania, noted that measures were being taken to support gender equality and integrate women in the labour market. What were the main thrusts of these policies and measures which were being taken for improving equality between genders? Did this cover the gender pay gap? Had any specific measures been taken to match education to labour market requirements? What measures had been taken on safe abortion services, contraception and sexually transmitted infections? Could more details be shared on the unequal distribution of health care services in rural and remote areas? Was free legal aid provided in these areas? LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Vice Chair and Cluster Leader, asked what steps were being taken to support the transition of orphans from public institutions to adult life? Was the State party planning to broaden eligibility for social housing, including income from the informal sector? What were the public policy measures being implemented in relation to water and sanitation? What steps were being taken to roll out risk reduction programmes for drug users? What was being done in terms of decriminalisation of drug use? A Committee Expert asked whether the State party planned to put a legal framework in place which allowed gender identity change for trans persons in documents and records? What was the legal framework for access to healthcare treatment for people who wished to change their bodies in line with their self-identified gender? Responses by the Delegation The delegation said a working group had recently been established to set up a protocol on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. Albania had an action plan for the provision of contraceptives. Social housing support covered a wide scope. It was provided to Roma and Egyptian minorities, as well as other categories. The quota for Roma was five per cent but it was surpassed. The deinstitutionalisation process was wide, as it also related to local governments. During the implementation of employment promotion programmes, more than 65 per cent of women were included. Albania had taken a lot of measures to ensure that the youth brain drain did not occur, and to employ young people in the country. The first initiative was the increase in wages in the public sector, where the average wage was now 900 euros. This offered more disposable income for youth. The State was increasing its collaboration with universities to create educational opportunities for students in Albania. An internship programme was available to all graduates with a Bachelor degree. The Youth Guarantee was piloted in three cities and constituted recommendations to employ youth who were neither in employment nor education. This project would be launched throughout Albania next year. Albania had taken efforts to recognise cohabitation and same sex relationships. There was an extensive system of legal aid provided in 20 centres throughout the country in big and small cities. The law on audiovisual media had been amended to ensure information was accessible to those in vulnerable groups. The National Reception Centre for victims of trafficking also offered specialised services. Workshops had been organised on the topic of the elimination of discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons at workplaces in the private sector. The Transgender Medical Protocol was being developed through a wide range of consultations. Questions by Committee Experts LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN-TATU, Committee Chair and Cluster Leader, said boys outperformed girls in mathematics according to the Programme for International Student Assessment, with one of the largest score-point differences; students’ performance in reading was one of the lowest, with boys scoring very low. Boys’ performance in science was also one of the lowest among participating countries. Could some insight into these figures be provided? What measures had been implemented to address the low performance of students in mathematics, reading and science? How were these measures adapted for boys and girls respectively? According to available data, 60 per cent of school aged pupils from Roma and Egyptian minorities were out of school, with girls facing a particular challenge. Was the percentage of 60 per cent the same for both genders? Could disaggregated data on access to education for boys and girls be provided? Why was the free meals programme discontinued in some schools? Could more information on the activity on the Roma mediators in schools be provided? Was this position renumerated? School segregation seemed to be a systematic problem across Albania, with 90 per cent of Roma students attending segregated education in Albania. What measures were in place to address school segregation in a coordinated and systemic manner? Could information be provided on the learning of minority languages throughout the country? Reponses by the delegation In response to these questions and others, the delegation said that school dropout was a serious challenge for many countries, including for Albania. Student enrolment and attendance was monitored. During the 2022-2023 school year, the number of students who dropped out had decreased by six per cent compared to the previous school year. For the 2023-2024 school year, leaders of pre-educational institutions had established working groups which aimed to implement interventions to increase school attendance among dropouts. A network for increasing school dropouts had been set up. Lessons were offered to Roma students to assist them in their schooling. Scholarships were available for students at risk of dropping out. Programmes which involved students in extracurricular activities, including art, craft, and sport were very important, making school more attractive and bringing the school community closer together. Education for children with disabilities was provided in both regular and specialised schools. Albania had specialised schools, including for blind and deaf children, which serviced around 500 pupils. After the approval on the law on national minorities, four by-laws were approved, which served to equip students with free textbooks and ensured the development of classes for national minorities, among other requirements. In 2022, official instruction was approved on data mining regarding subjects taught in the Albanian language. Following the recommendation of the Committee of National Minorities, the Bosnian language had been incorporated in the area where this group were concentrated. At the University of Tirana, there was a department for the Greek language. Since 2016, Albania had collected data on the Roma through over 200 focal points. There were challenges with data, particularly relating to self-identification. Collecting data of Roma and Egyptian minorities separately was a key focus of the Government. The data showed which issues affected both minorities. Albania was dedicated to ensuring that minority rights were present on paper and enforced by law. Since 2021, the Committee for National Minorities had financed a total of 10 projects with a value of 120,000 euros. All projects focused on the cultural preservation of the national minorities in Albania. In the Programme for International Student Assessment in 2022, Albanian students had a drop in performance. This could be attributed to the 2019 earthquake which caused major destruction in housing, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of students undertaking the assessment were students in the cities most affected by the earthquake. The national teacher development programme aimed to improve student learning outcomes through the professional development of teachers, with a focus on reading, maths, science, digital skills and inclusiveness. The law on science and scientific research had been approved by the Government and was expected to be submitted to parliament this year. The State aimed to ensure that by 2030, Albania would provide high quality scientific research for socio-economic development in line with European standards. The right to healthcare was defined in the law on asylum. Applicants had the right to healthcare, including emergency care. Concluding Remarks PREETI SARAN, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Albania, thanked the delegation from Albania for participating in the constructive dialogue. The responses had provided a better understanding of the challenges which Albania faced in the fulfilment of the provisions of the Covenant. Ms. Saran thanked everyone who had made the dialogue possible. VASILIKA HYSI, Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, expressed appreciation for the open and constructive dialogue with the Committee. The Albanian Government was committed to improving its policies and would take necessary measures to strengthen its legislative framework on the Covenant. Albania looked forward to the recommendations of the Committee. Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.