The Interreligious Council of Albania – Press release On the “Sexual and Reproductive Health” draft law
Based on its statutory rights, the Interreligious Council of Albania, after being informed through the media about the draft law “On Sexual and Reproductive Health”, convened the Presidency Board on April 29, 2024, together with a working group approved by five religious communities, composed of specialists: jurists, sociologists, theologians, and medical professionals. During this meeting, they raised concerns about the lack of involvement of religious communities in the public hearing of this law, as a party of interest, and about the absence of a relationship that should endorse this draft law officially. The working group presented to the Presidency Board the professional arguments regarding the aforementioned draft law and the negative effects it may have on individual, familial, and societal health.
After intensive dissenting work among field specialists, the Interreligious Council of Albania, based on its statute approved in 2007, addressed the highest state institutions with an open letter:
the Parliament of the Republic of Albania – Chairperson, Ms. Lindita Nikolla, and the Commission for Labor, Social Affairs, and Health; the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama; the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Minister Ms. Albana Koçiu; the Ombudsman, Ms. Erinda Ballanca, and for the President’s awareness, Mr. Bajram Begaj.
The Interreligious Council of Albania, as an interest group, requests the suspension of the review of the aforementioned draft law without its participation in the consultative sessions at the Ministry of Health; to be granted the right to precede the inspections, revisions, and objections regarding the draft law; and to be part of the public hearings of this draft law. Otherwise, the Interreligious Council requests that the draft law “On Sexual and Reproductive Health” not be passed to the Parliament of Albania.
With the desire that our requests, representing the will and sentiments of all our believers, part of the five official religious communities and Albanian society, receive proper attention from the legislative institutions, let us all work together for a better and safer future for the younger generations, with faith in God and the law for the common good.
May God bless Albania and all its citizens!
The Presidency Board of the Interreligious Council of Albania:
Hadji Bujar Spahiu, Chairman of the Muslim Community of Albania
His Beatitude, Anastasios Yannoulatos, Archbishop of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Archbishop Gjergj Meta, Chairman of the Episcopal Conference
Hadji Dede Edmond Brahimaj, Headfather of the Bektashi World Center
Pastor Ergest Biti, Chairman of the Evangelical Alliance of Albania
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https://knfsh.al/en/deklarate-per-shtyp-2/
https://knfsh.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Argumentet.pdf
