12 Meeting of States Parties

Convention on Cluster Munitions

10-13 September 2024

 

Albanian intervention on the matters related to the Victim Assistance

CCM Article 5

 

Thank you Madame President,

Let me start by congratulating you on assuming the role of President of the Twelve Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). I would like to thank the Coordinators of the Victim Assistance Austria and Panama for the report on the status of progress made on the implementation of article 5.

Albania aligns itself with the statement of European Union and would like to make the following remarks on the national capacities.

The humanitarian goals of the Convention on Cluster Munitions remain the cornerstones in the protection of civilians from the hard consequences of cluster munitions and in advancing international peace and human security.

Albania ratified the convention on 16 June 2009 and has never used, produced, stockpiled or transferred Cluster Munitions. In accordance with article 4 Albania has completed clearance of all its contaminated areas by cluster munitions in 2009 and people in northeast Albania can now live and work in a safe environment.

In the area of victim assistance, in accordance with Article 5 of the CCM and Lausanne Action Plan, Albania has provided access to health and social services for persons with disabilities through a legal basis for social inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. National Action Plan on Persons with Disabilities (2021-2025) foresees measures on the socio-economic inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and it is fully in line with the principles and definitions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Implementation of the National Plan has focused on psychological and social support, socio-economic reintegration, and efforts to provide aid to all persons with disabilities and mine/UXO survivors.

Furthermore, it aims to address the inequalities faced by persons with disabilities in areas such as employment, health, social protection, access to health facilities, including education, and barriers to participating in decision-making.

The National Health Strategy 2021-2030 sets objectives for vulnerable groups receiving health services, ensuring they are accessible and affordable for the health of the Albanian population. Access to health care services, therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions for persons with disabilities and mine/UXO survivors are provided at all levels of service delivery in primary and hospital health care centers.

The University Hospital in Tirana provides orthopaedic prostheses and specialized medical services for Persons with Disabilities. The Regional Hospital in Kukes has been transformed into a modern health service structure and standards in operation for the north-eastern region from which most of the mine survivors come.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection is cooperating with line ministries, civil society, and strategic partners to support persons with disability in all areas of inclusion to provide social support and services, employment, housing, and access to justice.

The representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection have participated in activities alongside with representatives of institutions and organizations of Persons with Disabilities and also at the First National Conference on Assistive Devices that took place in Tirana, March 2023.

In June 2023, it was approved the Social Employment Fund, which provide the provision and administration of financial mechanisms for the promotion of employment, integration, and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Madame Chair,

We are confident that mainstreaming gender equality – including within the CCM – will improve our mutual efforts and effectiveness in working towards sustainable peace for all. In this regard Albania aligns itself with the joint statement on gender to be delivered by Germany during the meeting.

Albania remains committed to investing a lot of efforts at the national level to proceed with the fulfillment of all our obligations under the CCM.

Thank you.