Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Seventy-ninth session

8 August – 2 September 2011

Implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

List of themes to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the fifth to eight periodic reports of Albania (CERD/C/ALB/5-8)*

The following is a list of themes identified by the country rapporteur in connection with the consideration of the combined fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth periodic reports of Albania. The list is meant to guide the dialogue between the State party delegation and the Committee and does not require written replies. This is not an exhaustive list as other issues will be raised in the course of the dialogue.

Reliable indicators of demographic composition and socio-economic data (art. 1):

(a)Status of the census of population 2011; extent and modalities of the participation of minorities groups in the preparation of the census, and criteria used for the inclusion of questions on ethnicity;

(b) Systems in force for collecting data on the social and economic situation of minorities of the country.

2 . The Convention in domestic law and the legislative and policy framework for its implementation; judicial recourse and compensation (arts. 2, 4 and 6) :

(a) Mandate and functioning of the Office of the Commissionaire for the Protection from Discrimination; resources, competences to deal with individual or groups complaints, compatibility with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles);

(b) Coordination between different institutions, entities and advisory bodies dealing with subjects related to the Convention;

(c) Prohibition of organizations promoting racial discrimination as well as participation in such organizations; prohibition of public institutions promoting racial discrimination;

(d) The concept of special measures in the legislation and policies of the State party: whether special measures are considered necessary and in what fields; whether there are vulnerable groups or individuals who would deserve to benefit therefrom;

(e) Legislation and measures meant to prevent and eliminate indirect discrimination, especially in the fields of housing, education, health and employment;

(f) The access of alleged victims of racism and racial discrimination to effective remedies, including measures to raise awareness of victims of racism and racial discrimination about the remedies provided for in domestic legislation and legal assistance to them; prosecution and punishment of those responsible and fair reparation to victims; lack of reported complaints on racial discrimination and decisions taken by domestic tribunals and courts.

Situation of minorities (art. 5):

(a) Distinction between national and linguistic minorities; dialogue with Roma and Vlach/Aromanian linguistic minorities as to their status as minorities in Albania; status of the Egyptian community and the Bosniacs living in Albania;

(b)The situation of the participation of minorities in decision-making processes and in public life;

(c)Effectiveness of existing mechanisms of dialogue and consultation, such as the State Committee for Minorities, in bringing the concerns of minorities to political forums;

(d)Situation of minority groups with regard to the enjoyment without discrimination of the rights set out in article 5 of the Covenant, particularly with regard to education, employment, and access to health services;

(e)Social and economic situation of the Egyptian community in Albania.

5. Situation of Roma (art. 5) :

Update on the situation of Roma, especially with regard to their access to education, employment, heath services, birth registration, and adequate housing; status, effectiveness, obstacles and challenges of the implementation of the National Strategy for Improving the Living Conditions of the Roma Community.

6.Situation of non-citizens (art. 5):

Situation of refugees and asylum-seekers in the enjoyment of their rights without discrimination.