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 uses a police case management system – the TIMS portal – to record and store all statistical data and information relating to criminal offences classified according to the Criminal Code of Albania. The system documents detailed information about the place and time of the offence and the perpetrators and victims involved, including information such as age, gender, education, profession, relationships between perpetrators and victims, any weapons or instruments used in the commission of the offence, and the motives for the offence. However, the system does not record possible bias motives behind the registered offences. Hate crimes are identified based on the relevant Criminal Code provisions along with other types of crimes. The application of an aggravating circumstance provision (Article 50 (j)) is not recorded.
The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) is an independent public legal institution responsible for generating official statistics, and has regional statistical offices operating at the local level. The State Police provides INSTAT with detailed data on criminal incidents, including those motivated by racism, xenophobia, sexual orientation, or religious belief. INSTAT processes and analyses the police data in order to generate official statistics and develop 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. Adopted in 2024, the Intersectoral Strategy for the Protection of Crime Victims, 2024-2030, determines the main steps towards improving Albania's victim support system.
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.