This page provides information on the national frameworks to address hate crime in Albania. The information provided here should be viewed alongside data presented on Albania's hate crime report page.

Hate crime recording and data collection

The Albanian State Police use the police case management system, TIMS portal, to record and store all statistical data and information for criminal offences classified according to the Criminal Code of Albania. The system documents detailed information about the place and time of the offence, the perpetrators and victims involved, and includes information such as age, gender, education, profession, connections between the perpetrators and victims, weapons or instruments used, and the reasons and causes of the occurrence. Hate crimes are identified based on the Criminal Code provisions along with other types of crimes. The use of an aggravating circumstance provision (Article 50 (j)) is not recorded.

The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) is an independent public legal institution, with regional statistical offices operating at the local level, in charge of producing official statistics in Albania. The State Police provides detailed data on criminal incidents, including those motivated by racism, xenophobia, sexual orientation, or religious belief, which INSTAT processes and analyses in order to publish official statistics. The data are included in annual reports on crime and security.

In Albania, hate crime data are published under the same procedure as other criminal offences. The publication of hate crimes is regulated by Law No. 119/2014, (Amended by Law No. 78/2023, dated 21.9.2023). 

Hate crime victim support

There is no centralized, state-run system of support for hate crime victims in Albania.
Specialist support services are mostly provided by civil society organizations (CSOs), which are often the first point of contact for hate crime victims. CSOs typically offer information, legal aid, psychological support, and material assistance. These services are mostly accessible in the capital and other large cities. 

Some of these organizations receive financial assistance from the State or international sources.

Some police officers serving at the Regional Directorates in Albania have been trained on the sensitive treatment of hate crime victims. There is no formal system in place for referring victims from the police to CSOs, or between prosecution services and CSOs. However, the police have a formal co-operation with some specialist service providers. CSOs, law enforcement and regional municipality co-ordinators exchange information about hate crime victims.

Prosecutors are generally responsible for guaranteeing the effective exercise of hate crime victims' rights, and for providing mandatory assistance in the preliminary phase of an investigation. Prosecution services should also ensure that the police officers in charge provide assistance to victims, address any deficiencies in support and ensure that victims understand their rights and are informed of developments in their cases on a regular basis.

In case the victim belongs to a vulnerable category, the prosecutor is responsible for notifying the responsible social services to ensure that their security, medical and material needs are met, including basic subsistence and housing needs.