The Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and its Implementation in Albania

Abstract

The freedom of assembly is one of the fundamental freedoms declared in a series of international legal documents and sanctioned in the domestic law of many states. In recent years, under the influence of economic, social, and political circumstances or those related to the pandemic, this freedom has been a tool in the hands of citizens or different entities to organize together and voice their concerns and grievances. In addition to the progress made in Albania, in practice, in many cases, problems have been identified in guaranteeing the exercise of the freedom of assembly of citizens by public authorities due to a lack of understanding of the purpose of the law or the lack of training of State Police employees in regards to taking measures for the management of gatherings. In addressing freedom of assembly in this paper, the methodology based on the assessment of the legal framework has been taken into consideration, as well as the challenges arising in the implementation of this right in an Albanian context. The sources of information are based on the reports of various institutions inside and outside Albania, on the legal framework that regulates the freedom of assembly, as well as on concrete situations of the organization of assemblies and emerging problems. The paper in conclusion reflects some recommendations in the context of improving legal guarantees as well as the taking of measures by public authorities in Albania in the exercise of freedom of assembly.

Received: 05 May 2022 / Accepted: 16 May 2023 / Published: 20 May 2023