Honour-Based Violence in Albania: When Culture Becomes Persecution

Last updated: 5 October 2026

Photo: Albanian man.1962. Orthodox women wool sellers in background.1962 - Naum Ohridski

Honour violence in Albania is a serious but often hidden problem. When people think of Albanian violence, they usually think of blood feuds between men. However, women in Albania face a different kind of danger. They face violence because of "honour." This means violence from their own family members for behaviour that the family considers shameful. It can include having a relationship before marriage, asking for a divorce, or refusing an arranged marriage. This article explains the forms of Albania honour violence, how common it is, and why the Albanian state often fails to protect women.[1]

Honour-based violence is not the same as domestic violence, although they often overlap. Domestic violence can happen for many reasons. Honour violence has a specific cause: the family believes the woman has damaged their reputation. As a result, the violence is often planned and supported by multiple family members. This makes it harder for the woman to escape. Moreover, the community may support the family's actions. Understanding these patterns is essential for anyone assessing asylum claims from Albanian women. For background on Albanian conditions, see our country reports section.

What Counts as "Honour" Violations in Albania

In traditional Albanian culture, family honour depends heavily on the behaviour of women. A woman can "dishonour" her family in several ways. These include having a romantic or sexual relationship before marriage. Refusing an arranged marriage also brings shame. Seeking a divorce, even from an abusive husband, is seen as a disgrace. Additionally, any behaviour considered "immodest" by the family can trigger violence.[2]

LGBTQ+ identity is another trigger. A woman who is lesbian or bisexual may face extreme violence from her family. The family sees her sexuality as bringing permanent shame. Furthermore, a woman who has been raped may be blamed by her own family. Instead of receiving support, she may face punishment. The family views the rape as damage to their honour, not as a crime against the woman.

It is important to understand that these "rules" are not written law. They come from traditional customs, especially the Kanun. The Kanun is a set of customary laws that governed Albanian society for centuries. Although the Kanun is an oral tradition and not legally binding, its influence remains strong. In some communities, the Kanun's rules about women carry more weight than the Albanian Criminal Code. Women who break these unwritten rules face real danger.

Forms of Albania Honour Violence

Albania honour violence takes many forms. The most extreme is honour killing. A family member, usually a brother, father, or uncle, kills the woman to "restore" the family's reputation. Although honour killings are less common than other forms of violence, they still happen. When they do, the family often plans them carefully. Other family members may know about the plan and support it.[3]

Physical abuse is the most common form. This includes beatings, burning, cutting, and other assaults. The violence is often severe and repeated. Forced marriage is another widespread form. A family may force a young woman to marry a man she does not want. This can happen when she is still a teenager. If she refuses, the family may beat her, lock her in the house, or threaten to kill her.

Social isolation and ostracism are also used as punishment. The family may cut the woman off from all social contact. Neighbours and extended family may be told not to speak to her. In rural areas, this isolation can be total. The woman becomes a prisoner in her own home. Additionally, families sometimes force a woman to return to an abusive husband. If she leaves him, her own parents may send her back. They believe that divorce is worse than the abuse she suffers.

The Scale of Honour Violence in Albania

The true scale of Honour violence in Albania is unknown. Most cases are never reported. Cultural norms prevent women from going to the police. They fear more violence if they speak out. They also fear that the police will not help them. Albania's national statistics institute (INSTAT) conducts surveys on violence against women. These surveys show that about 36% of Albanian women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner. However, these figures cover all domestic violence, not only honour-related violence.[4]

There are no official statistics specifically on honour-based violence. This is because Albania does not recognise "honour violence" as a separate category in its criminal law. Therefore, honour killings are recorded simply as murders. Forced marriages are rarely reported at all. As a result, the data significantly underestimates the true extent of the problem. Researchers and NGOs believe that thousands of women face honour-related violence each year in Albania.

Regional Differences: Northern Albania and Beyond

Honour violence is often linked to northern Albania, where the Kanun has its strongest influence. The northern regions of Shkodra, Tropoja, and Kukesi have deeply traditional communities. In these areas, the concept of family honour is central to social life. Breaking the honour code can have severe consequences. Additionally, northern Albania is more rural, which makes it harder for women to access services or escape.[5]

However, honour violence is not limited to the north. It exists throughout Albania, including in Tirana and other cities. Urban areas may have more services available. But traditional attitudes about honour exist in families across the country. A family that moved from rural northern Albania to Tirana may still follow the same customs. Furthermore, Albania is a small country. Family networks reach everywhere. A woman who moves to another city is often found by her family. Therefore, internal relocation within Albania may not provide safety.

Forms of Honour Violence and Legal Response

Legal Framework: Gaps in Albanian Law

Albania does not have specific legislation on honour-based violence. There is no law that names "honour violence" or "honour killing" as a distinct crime. Instead, honour-related acts are covered by general criminal law provisions. Murder is murder, regardless of the motive. Physical assault is assault. This approach means that the honour element of the violence is often invisible in the legal system.[6]

Albania's domestic violence law (Law No 9669 of 2006, amended in 2020) does provide some protection. It allows courts to issue protection orders that keep the abuser away from the victim. However, the DV law was designed for partner violence, not for violence from wider family members. Honour violence often involves brothers, fathers, uncles, and in-laws. The law does not address this pattern well. Furthermore, there is no specific offence for "honour crime" that would signal to police and prosecutors the seriousness of these cases.

Article 130/a of the Albanian Criminal Code criminalises forced marriage. This was added in 2013. However, prosecutions under this article remain very rare. Families arrange marriages through social pressure, not through formal legal processes. As a result, there is often no paper trail. The woman may not even know she has the legal right to refuse. In practice, the law exists but does not protect most victims. For a broader view of Albania's reform progress, see our country conditions updates.

Police Response to Honour Violence

The police response to Albania honour violence is often poor. Police officers in Albania, particularly in rural areas, share the same cultural values as the communities they serve. Many officers see violence within the family as a private matter. They may try to mediate between the woman and her family instead of treating the situation as a crime. This approach puts the woman in greater danger.[7]

Even when police take a report, follow-up is often inadequate. Protection orders may not be monitored. The family may continue to threaten or abuse the woman without consequences. In some cases, police officers have been known to inform the family that the woman made a complaint. This puts her at even greater risk. Additionally, police stations may not have female officers available, which discourages women from reporting.

Despite legislative improvements, the implementation of measures to prevent and combat violence against women in Albania remains insufficient. Stereotypical attitudes towards the roles of women and men in the family continue to pervade the responses of law enforcement and the judiciary.
GREVIO (Council of Europe), Baseline Evaluation Report on Albania, 2024

Internal Relocation: Why It Often Fails

In asylum cases, governments often argue that the woman can safely relocate within Albania instead of being granted protection abroad. However, internal relocation is rarely a real option for women fleeing honour violence. Albania is a small country with about 2.8 million people. Family networks are strong and extend across the entire country. A family that wants to find a woman will usually succeed.[8]

Social stigma follows women who leave their families. In a new city, a single Albanian woman without family support faces serious difficulties. She may struggle to find housing, employment, and social acceptance. Landlords may refuse to rent to a woman alone. Employers may be suspicious. Furthermore, if people in the new community learn why she left her family, she may face the same stigma and isolation.

Shelters for domestic violence victims exist in Albania, but there are only about three functioning shelters in the entire country. They have limited capacity and can only house women for a short time. After leaving the shelter, the woman faces the same problems. She has nowhere safe to go within Albania. Therefore, for many women facing honour violence, internal relocation does not provide real safety. The Albanian state cannot guarantee her protection. Our asylum guide explains how this affects protection claims.

Implications for Asylum Claims

Albania honour violence has clear implications for asylum claims. Women who face honour-based violence may qualify for international protection on several grounds. First, they can claim persecution on the basis of membership of a particular social group (PSG). Albanian women who have transgressed social norms constitute a recognisable social group. Courts in the UK and other countries have accepted this.[9]

Second, the failure of the Albanian state to protect these women is a key element. Asylum law does not require that the state itself is the persecutor. It is enough that the state is unable or unwilling to protect the person from persecution by non-state actors. In the case of honour violence, the "persecutors" are family members. The state's failure to enforce protection orders, prosecute honour crimes, and provide safe shelter means that it is unable or unwilling to protect.

Third, internal relocation must be assessed realistically. As discussed above, Albania's small size and strong family networks make relocation unsafe for many women. An expert witness can explain why relocation would not work in a specific case. Expert reports are particularly important in honour violence cases because decision-makers may not understand the cultural dynamics at play.

Conclusion

Albania honour violence is a form of gender-based persecution that affects thousands of women. It goes beyond domestic violence. It is rooted in cultural norms about family reputation and female behaviour. The Albanian state has laws on paper, but enforcement is weak. Police often side with the family. Shelters are few. Internal relocation fails because Albania is small and family networks are strong. For women facing this violence, the only safe option may be international protection. Asylum decision-makers must understand the cultural context, assess the reality of state protection, and recognise that EU accession progress does not mean Albanian women are safe. Every case must be assessed on its own facts, with proper evidence and expert analysis.