THE ALBANIAN LEGAL GUARANTEES FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES
This paper assesses the major issues in regard to previous Albanian Constitutions of 1921, 1976 and 1991. Moreover, it states the provisions of the current Constitution (1998 with amendments) for the recognition and protection of human rights. Some of the issues raised are the obstacles that Albanian institutions confront with both nationally and interna¬tionally in guaranteeing the protection of national minorities’ rights. Moreover, the pur¬pose of this paper is to shed light on the adoption of the new legislation on minority rights on the basis of its role and duties under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The essence of democracy is the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and ensuring that these freedoms and rights are fully protected makes a state substantially democratic.
Keywords: human rights, national minorities, Albanian Constitution, minority rights, democracy, legislation, laws, Convention.
Biberaj, E. 1990. Albania: A Socialist Maverick. Boulder: Westview Press.
Hitaj, E. 2015. Human Rights Protection in Albania. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 4(3), pp. 179-187. https://doi.org/10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p554
Ludwikowski, R. R. 1995. Fundamental Constitutional Rights in the New Constitutions of Eastern and Central Europe. Washington D.C.: The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.
Pettifer, J. 2001. The Greek Minority in Albania in the Aftermath of Communism. Available at: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/38652/2001_Jul_2.pdf (29. 9. 2023).
Toro, E. S. 2000. Of Courts and Rights: Constitutionalism in Post-Communist. North Carolina Journal of International Law, 25(2), pp. 485-516.
Xhaxho, M. 2007. Minority Rights and the Republic of Albania: Missing the Implementation. Lund: Lund University, Faculty of Law.
Legal sources and case law
Albania, T. A., no. 7961/1995, 07 12.
Code of Administrative Procedures of the Republic of Albania no. 44/2015.
Council of Europe. 2001. First Report Submitted by the Republic of Albania under Article 25/1 of the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of National Minorities.
Council of Europe. 2001. Report Submitted by Albania Under Article 25(1) of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
Council of Europe. 2020. ECRI – Country monitoring in Albania. Available at: https://coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/albania
Council of Europe. 2021. Fifth Report of Albania on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
ECHR. X and others v. Albania. Available at: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22tab-view%22:[%22document%22],%22itemid%22:[%22001-217624%22]} (29. 9. 2023).
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
Law on the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania no. 96/2017
The Constitution of the Republic of Albania. Available at: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Albania_2012.pdf?lang=en (29. 9. 2023).
The Constitution of the Republic of Albania of 1928.
The Constitution of the Republic of Albania of 1976.
The Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania no. 7895/1995, 01 27. Available at: https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/ALBANIA_Criminal%20Code.pdf (29. 9. 2023).
Online sources
PCIJ. 1935. Minority Schools in Albania. Available at: https://www.icj-cij.org/public/files/permanent-court-of-international-justice/serie_AB/AB_64/01_Ecoles_minoritaires_Avis_consultatif.pdf (29. 9. 2023).