The National Conference “Women, Peace, Security” organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in cooperation with UN Women, gathered senior government officials and international representatives to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women to contribute to the Peace and Security Agenda, as well as the presentation of the National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

“There is a clear correlation between women and peace: An equation that says: Woman equals peace! Personally, I feel truly privileged to be part of one of the few cabinets in the world that is made up of a majority of women. Today, Albania has more women than ever before in the Armed Forces, in international peacekeeping missions, in diplomacy, in the State Police, as well as in management levels”, said the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albana Koçiu.

Expressing the commitment of the Ministry of Health in the coordination of the process, as well as the implementation of the Action Plan for Resolution 1325, Koçiu said that more involvement, more voice on the part of women is the best guarantee for the future.

“The participation of women in peace agreements increases the success of the agreement by 35%. The constant participation of women in building peace reduces by 70% the possibility that the conflict will rekindle”, said the Minister of Health.

Minister Koçiu also focused on the findings of the progress report of the EC for Albania.

“The progress report has evidenced that almost 2 out of 3 employees in the administration during 2024 are girls and women. And it has also evidenced the further narrowing of the gap both in employment and in the salary difference”, said Koçiu.

Kociu pointed out that the minister she leads has an essential role to promote equality for everyone, even for those women and girls in non-privileged conditions.