Learning by seeing: A2J project conducts a study tour to Albania

A total of 11 delegates from the HELVETAS Tajikistan office, SALAC (State Agency ‘Legal Aid Center’), PO ‘Youth House’ and local authorities from B. Gafurov, Devashtich and Vahdat districts were hosted by the Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS).

*Tirana Legal Aid Society, (TLAS) started its activity in 1999 and was registered as an Albanian independent local not-for-profit organization, in the form of the Center. TLAS Mission is to fulfill social and legal needs of the people in need through education and increasing of the awareness of the Albanian society on the rule of law and human rights; promotion of improvements in Albanian legislation; progress of the community and strengthening of the democracy in Albania.

The study tour started with an introductory session from TLAS on Social Monitoring & Policy Dialogue progress in the context of Albania, followed by the meeting with the NGO Coalition ‘Justice for all”. By directly communicating with the experts and asking them questions, delegates were able to learn about implementation challenges confronted, and solutions to those challenges. In addition to exchanging knowledge and experience at the table, delegates had a chance to visit the Ministry of Justice of Republic of Albania and meet the representatives of the Law Commission in the Albanian Parliament. Through observation, the delegates developed a more comprehensive understanding of legal system of the country.

Among many organizations met during this study-tour, certain ones are worth mentioning, such as:

• • • Civil Rights Center - provides basic and secondary legal aid to Albanian citizens;
    • Albanian Coalition for Child Education – advocates on behalf of roman children and their inclusion into the public education system and conducts legal awareness campaign on importance of universal rights to quality and inclusive education for every child, regardless of the nationality or physical abilities;
    • Tirana Youth Leadership- an youth network that aims to increase participation of youth at all stages of decision-making and policy-making processes in the country.

Within these days of extensive knowledge and experience exchange, the delegates gained a broader perspective on and understanding of the Social Monitoring & Policy Dialogue mechanisms in the context of Albania, which can be applied to Tajikistan in future.