In 2006, the Albanian parliament declared the first law on domestic violence in Albania. The legal basis for addressing violence is the Law “On Measures Against Domestic Violence” No. 9669, dated 18.12.2006. The entry of this law into force was declared in 2006 and its amendments in 2007. Furthermore, in 2010 an important step towards completing the legal framework in the field of domestic violence was made. The purpose of this law is to prevent and reduce domestic violence in all its forms through appropriate legal measures, as well as ensure the protection by legal means of family members who are subject to domestic violence. This law has four main objectives:

1. To establish a coordinated network of responsible authorities for protection, support and rehabilitation of victims, and to mitigate the consequences of domestic violence as well its prevention;
2. To lead efforts to create structures responsible at national and local level, to support the victims and prevention of domestic violence;
3. To strengthen the powers of the judicial authorities to take protective measures against domestic violence;
4. To ensure / guarantee that victims of violence to provide services fast, inexpensive, and simple by other courts and law enforcement in accordance with the law.

Law “On Measures Against Domestic Violence” organizes six government institutions in a coordinated network of authorities for protection, support and rehabilitation of victims, mitigation of consequences and prevention of domestic violence. Leading authority under this law is MoSWY. Other responsible authorities are the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and local government units. In 2011, pursuant to Article 100 of the Albanian Constitution and Article 8/8 of the law “On Measures Against Domestic Violence” (amended in 2010), the Council of Ministers decided to set up “coordination mechanism for the referral of domestic violence and the manner of proceeding. ” On the basis of this decision steering committees were established responsible for coordinating the action of the competent authorities responsible at the local level as well as to refer cases of domestic violence, and redefine the responsibilities of cross-departmental technical teams and coordinators of local referral cases violence in family conditions.

Community Development Center “Today for the Future” is one of the first organizations that joined the Coordinated and Referral Mechanism of Domestic Violence, funded by UNDP, and supported from the Municipality, which has order implementation in accordance of Law No. 9669 dated 18.12.2006 “On Measures Against Domestic Violence”.

Community Development Center “Today for the Future” was chosen as an NGO that meets all the obligations and conditions required by UNDP in the best way considering the needs of the survivors of violence. The electronic system for recording data relating to the management of cases of domestic violence was installed in the Municipality of Durres, with the support of UNDP in August-September 2010.

Victims can benefit from various forms of support provided by the center such as legal support, psychological support, counseling by phone etc.

The center provides an environment with all the conditions necessary for optimal accommodation of the victim for a period of 1-2 days, for emergency cases of victims of domestic violence and for those who are in danger. Cooperation with the Department of Policy offers 24 hours of safe housing for victims at the center. In these cases they are given clothing and food.

After the successful experience in Durres, CDC “Today for the Future”  became part of the Coordinated and Referral Mechanism of Domestic Violence in Tirana, which already operates actively to resolve the issues of violence in close collaboration with other institutional networks such as the Municipality of Tirana, court, police, etc.