On September 8, 2020, the Department of Women in the Inter Religious Council of Albania, organized a friendly meeting with the Ambassador of the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana Her Excellency Mrs. Elsa Hastad.
The interactive discussion took place with the participation of women and girls representing the traditional religious communities of Albania, an active part of the Inter Religious Council, each of them presenting their faith and community, which represents their role in interfaith cooperation.
During this conversation the ambassador appreciated the spirit of their interfaith cooperation and assured them that the inter-institutional cooperation of the Department of Women in the Inter Religious Council of Albania and the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana will be continuous, especially in activities with topics such as promoting women's and girls' rights, gender equality in employment, family and payment, as well as other topics related to the empowerment of women in society.
In the meeting also they discussed topics such as discrimination against covered woman or those who wear religious symbols when applying for employment in the public and non-public sector; the low presence of women in the leadership of the administration, especially those who wear religious clothes; women's economic empowerment, an area for which the Swedish Embassy offers cooperation by financing new business initiatives by young girls and women; problems of radicalism and violent extremism, etc.
The Department of Women in the Interreligious Council of Albania was established last year by the Board of the Presidency at IRC Albania and is playing an active role in various social activities, promoting in various forms interfaith cooperation and dialogue.
