The fight against violence and for the rights of mistreated women in Albania 

Founded in July 2022, Life of Giving (LoG) is a local non-profit organisation operating in Shkodër, Albania, to protect families who have been victims of violence.

As part of her work with abused women or mothers benefiting from a protection order, Sr Beda Deda relies on the support of Catholic lawyer Landa M. to defend the rights of these women and provide them with security and legal assistance.

"Because of the increase in cases of abuse, we opened an emergency accommodation centre six years ago to take in women who were victims of domestic violence".

This reception centre offers a safe, family atmosphere. As well as accommodation, food, medical and psychological assistance, each woman can expect to receive legal advice and help in finding a job to help her rebuild her life.

Project: Supporting 2 mothers in their legal battle 

"A few months ago we welcomed a young mother aged 28 with her 2-year-old daughter and a mother of 4 children" Sr Besa Deda

The first, a Muslim woman, was locked in a flat with her daughter by a husband who physically and psychologically abused her. The acts of violence were identified by the social services in Shkodër, who helped her to obtain a protection order from the court.

"She was then taken into our "Papa Gioni XXIII" emergency accommodation centre to be protected from the danger posed by her husband and members of his family, who were threatening her and trying to take her minor child away from her.  Her husband's trial took place under police protection. In the meantime, she has expressed her wish to begin divorce proceedings."

The second, a Catholic, was cruelly mistreated along with her 4 children. Her husband was sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment, but this woman suffered a great deal of abuse at the hands of her husband's family, who blamed her for reporting him to the police.

"Following her suicide attempt, the social services decided to withdraw custody of her children. We took her in and housed her for 1 month. This mum is now under the protection of Life of Giving, and she and her children have been reunited and moved to another centre."

The funding for this project will enable these 2 mothers to receive :

- Legal assistance

- Accompaniment to court (transport)

- Payment of legal and psychologist fees

- Representation by a lawyer

- Collection of documents relating to the proceedings.

Thanks to your support, these women know that they can be protected.

Many thanks to you