THE ROLE OF ALBANIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN IN EU INTEGRATION PROCESS
THE ROLE OF ALBANIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN IN EU INTEGRATION PROCESS

Summary/Abstract: Every individual in the Republic of Albania enjoys a number of freedoms and rights which are recognized by the Constitution and the domestic legislation. In general, with regard to freedoms and human rights, this country has adopted the most advanced international standards. Likewise, the individual who is convicted as guilty by a final decision of the court of the country, enjoys certain rights that are sanctioned by the national legislation. In the middle, there is another category of individuals, deprived of liberty, who are in pre detention institutions, for whom there is still not a final decision by a national court. These individuals are presumed innocent for as long as a decision is taken for them. Given their position and particular status, the implementation of human rights in relation to this category of people, remains a very delicate and sensitive issue which requires, among others, especially by state institutions, civil society organizations and their staff, a special attention and care to prevent torture and ill treatment. This issue was simply and quickly dealt at the beginning of this study. However, many years were needed to understand and then treat the above mentioned issue by all those who, in a way or the other, exert their daily activity at the penitentiary system in Albania. This because of the simple reason that just like every other field, it took many years to change, improve and to reach as much as possible the international standards of the field. And it was never easy, especially for a country where the presumption of guilt, even though unwritten in the dictatorial period, was a burden in „the ether” on every simple Albanian. The mentality of this country at the wake of the democratic developments was inadequate and unfamiliar with freedoms and human rights and this was true even for the free people, let alone for the ones deprived of their liberty. At the beginning of the ’90-es, the Albanian economy was totally unproductive and unable „to think” for its „good” children, let alone the „bad” ones. In order for the life of this country to be changed, many years were needed for the improvement of the economic conditions, the change of the mentality, the creation of a democratic culture and also a great technical and financial support from international organizations or democratic countries. And at the same time to change the life of detanees and pre-detainees. And this change was from the material and spiritual point of view so that their dignity and human being enjoy the deserved respect. and this respect had to be materialized in some specific areas of this system: legal, institutional/organizational, infrastructure aspects and among the respective staff.

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