Tirana, February 2022 – As of today, all citizens, organizations or political parties, no longer need to request and obtain the permission of the Municipality of Tirana to exercise the right to peaceful assembly. The Administrative Court of Appeal, after considering the lawsuit filed by the Legal Clinic of CRCA / ECPAT Albania against the Order of the Municipal Council of Tirana, found it in violation of the constitution and several other laws.
CRCA / ECPAT Albania submitted to the Administrative Court of Appeals a year ago, a lawsuit against the Municipality of Tirana for seriously violating human rights, after the latter, in 2018, adopted an order which almost eliminated the exercise of the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, by seeking the organisers to get permission, which is not based on law. The order violated the Constitution of Albania and the Law on the right to peaceful assembly, by requiring ordinary citizens, CSOs or political parties to obtain a permission from the Municipality of Tirana to organize such peaceful assemblies.
In November 2018, the Municipal Council of Tirana, the decision-making body of the Municipality of Tirana, approved Order no. 130, dated 15.11.2018 where conditions and rules for occupying public spaces in the municipality of Tirana were set. Such activities included the occupation of public spaces for the development of promotional, artistic, cultural activities, political manifestations and others.”
On 7 February 2022, the Administrative Court of Appeal declared invalid the part of the order of the Tirana Municipal Council, legally granting the request of CRCA / ECPAT and FLA Albania on the organization of peaceful meetings only by notifying the National Police, as it is required by the Law on Peaceful Assemblies.
The Director of CRCA / ECPAT Albania, Altin Hazizaj emphasized: “We feel proud that we managed to ensure such a fair decision not only for us but for everyone who wants to exercise the legitimate right to peaceful protests.”
For more information, contact:
Legal Office for Children and Youth in Albania (FLA)
CRCA / ECPAT Albania
E-mail: fla@crca.al