HIJ ACTIVITY IN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALBANIA 2021

U.S. Department of State has published the annual report on Human Rights Practices in Albania for 2021. The section on respect for the integrity of the person presents the situation and the activity of institutions implementing the justice reform. The report also provides some results of the activity of the High Inspector of Justice in terms of handling complaints, investigation and disciplinary proceedings.

…”The implementation of justice reform provisions led to a pause in normal disciplinary processes while the country established independent disciplinary bodies.”

“From January through September 8, the country’s High Justice Inspectorate received 875 complaints that resulted in the issuance of 740 decisions on archiving and 120 decisions on the verifications of complaints. It also administered 24 disciplinary investigations, nine of which were carried over from the previous Inspectorate at the High Judicial Council. The High Justice Inspectorate also submitted nine requests for disciplinary proceedings against magistrates to the High Judicial Council and High Prosecutorial Council.”

Regarding the procedures and civil legal remedies to deal with, among others, violations and cases of corruption, efficiency in the judiciary, the Report highlights the contribution of the High Inspector of Justice through legal mechanisms towards disciplining the activities of magistrates, namely:

“…The ongoing vetting process and legal mechanisms put in place by the High Justice Inspector to regulate the disciplining of judges also aimed to mitigate such problems.”

The US Department of State’s report on human rights practices is an annual publication that sets out human rights conditions in countries and regions outside the United States and is presented annually by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.