Launch of the Emergency Centre for victims of domestic and gender-based violence and their children in Tirana

On 25 September 2026, the Social Impact Center Albania (SICA) officially launched the  Emergency Centre for women and girls experiencing violence, together with their children, in  Tirana. The Centre was established by SICA with the support of the Agency for the Administration  of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK) and the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF),  in close cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. 

The Centre provides immediate and secure accommodation, psychosocial support, legal and  medical assistance, crisis intervention, and referrals to longer-term protection and reintegration  services. Until its opening, Tirana had no dedicated 72-hour emergency shelter service, making  the new Centre an important addition to the protection system available to women and children  affected by violence. 

By offering a dedicated point of reference for urgent intervention, guidance, and protection, the  Centre strengthens the mechanisms available to respond to domestic and other forms of violence.  It also connects beneficiaries with relevant services and public institutions, helping to create  continuity between immediate assistance and longer-term pathways towards recovery,  rehabilitation, and reintegration. 

The importance of the initiative was reflected in the strong institutional participation at the  inauguration. Attendees included Klodiana Spahiu, Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Silva  Caka, Deputy Minister of Interior; and Risena Xhaja, Chief Administrator of the Agency for the  Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets, together with representatives of the European  Union Delegation to Albania and the Embassies of Spain, the Netherlands, and France.