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By Iris Beqiri/ Femicide should be included in the Albanian Criminal Code

2026-01-03 12:40:00, Opinione Iris Beqiri

by IRIS BEQIRI

Femicide is not only a family tragedy, but also a social problem in Albania. Year after year, the figures are almost frightening. Such a case was repeated no more than 24 hours ago.

According to a report, in our country, during the period 2021-2023, 32 murders of women and girls occurred in 19 municipalities of the territory, of which 24 murders turned out to be femicide. The femicide rate was 0.84 per 100,000 women, while according to the data, in almost 60% of cases the murders occurred in the victim's home.

And all these data should not be treated as statistics, as they should serve as an alarm bell for Albanian society. This brutal manifestation of this form of gender-based violence is taking many lives. Breaking the chain of this phenomenon would be a final break from a tragic escalation of violence.

But femicide is not only a private matter within the family, but also an issue that requires political action to take the appropriate steps, both in terms of policies and certain legal changes.

A long-standing concern, constantly raised by society and numerous non-political actors, and which is reopened every time cases are repeated, is the lack of a legal definition of femicide in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania.

A more specific breakdown is needed for these gender-based killings, events that essentially reflect patterns of violence and domination that women and girls constantly face. Meanwhile, in other Balkan countries, such as Croatia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, political and legal action is being taken to increase the distinction not only in terms, but also in the criminal prosecution of these events.

And when opportunities 'knock' on society, it is clearly understood that such an initiative is not simply driven by a news item or event of the day, but a necessity.

Femicide should be placed in the Criminal Code because such a crime deserves appropriate legal punishment, as current laws on this crime often fail to address the systemic misogyny and inequalities that fuel these crimes, leading to lighter sentences and gaps in justice for victims and their families.

Such a step is important not only because of a deficiency in the Criminal Code, but above all because the legal definition of femicide enables clearer responses from law enforcement, the judiciary, and institutions to address its root causes and prevent future occurrences.