On 25th June 2026, the Antigone Multifunctional Cultural Center held a travelling theater performance in Libohova, prepared and performed by young people, conveying important messages on the prevention of bullying in schools and the community. The performance was received with great enthusiasm by the audience, receiving continuous applause after each of the three acts. About 50 participants, including students, parents, teachers, social workers and psychologists, followed this activity with interest and attention. At the end of the performance, the participants were involved in an open conversation with the actors and organizers, where they shared their thoughts and positive assessments on the treatment of the topic of bullying, a worrying phenomenon that continues to affect children and young people, but which often remains underestimated in Albanian society. The performances of the mobile theater group will continue in other municipalities of the Gjirokastra region, with the aim of raising awareness and encouraging community response to this issue. This activity was developed within the framework of the project “From Awareness to Action: Preventing the Culture of Bullying in Schools and the Community”, which is implemented with the support of the SCPA Program Grant Scheme.  

In the framework of the SCPA Program Grant Scheme, on 19 June 2026, “Woman to Woman” NGO held a meeting with the members of the Coordinated Referral Mechanism (CRM) in the Municipality of Malesi e Madhe. The meeting aimed to assess the functioning of the mechanism during the first half of 2026, to identify good cooperation practices and to identify challenges for its improvement. Representatives of the member institutions of the CRM, including the Local Coordinator for Domestic Violence, the State Police and representatives of administrative units participated in the activity. During the discussions, inter-institutional cooperation and effective coordination in the timely identification, referral and management of cases of domestic violence and gender-based violence were positively assessed. Among the main challenges was the lack of human resources in some administrative units. The participants also appreciated the importance of the trainings conducted and expressed the need for their continuity, as well as for updating knowledge on legal changes and CRM procedures. The meeting ended with the confirmation of the effective functioning of the mechanism and with the commitment to further strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and professional capacities of members.  

For many young people, their first contact with various forms of violence does not occur in institutions or in extreme situations. It can occur in the classroom, in social groups, on social networks or in relationships that at first glance seem ordinary. For this reason, the ability to recognize the early signs of violence and react to them is an essential element of prevention. During a session held with students of the elementary-middle school “Lidhja e Prizrenit”, the discussion focused on the challenges that young people face today, including bullying, cyberbullying, digital safety, healthy relationships and various forms of violence that can affect their well-being and development. Beyond theoretical information, attention was focused on concrete situations that young people encounter in everyday life and on ways in which they can seek support when faced with them. Experience shows that young people are often able to identify problematic behaviors, but do not always feel confident to report them or seek help. This makes it particularly important to create spaces where they can speak openly, ask questions and receive reliable information about the protection mechanisms available to them. The activity was developed by the Institute for Strategic Development (ISD), within the project “Decision-Making that Protects – Strengthening the Police Response and Professional Standards in Dealing with Domestic and Gender-Based Violence”, in the SCPA Program Grant Scheme.

On 09-10 June 2026,  General Patrol Officers and Command and Control Room personnel from Tropoja Police Commissariat (Kukes LPD) participated in the training delivered by SCPA PMT. During this training the trainees were introduced to both theoretical and practical exercises and group work by focusing on CP philosophy and implementation of its elements into the daily routine of ASP officers. In addition, they were presented with situations/practical exercises to be handled with and solved by them as they work in groups with the aim of providing measures to be taken proactively in order to implement the CP elements. Special attention was given to the theoretical and practical treatment of cases of Domestic Violence. Best EU practices on CP philosophy implementation were shared with the ASP officers. At the end of such training the ASP officers are able to enhance their knowledge and capacities on implementation of CP.  

On 3rd June 2026, “I, the Woman” NGO held an information session with students of the “Nefail Rozani” high school in Podgorie, Maliq, focusing on the risks of digital violence and protection in the online space. The event was attended by students, the school’s pedagogical staff, representatives of the State Police, specialists from the Child Protection Unit, social services specialists and representatives of the “I, the Woman” NGO. The activity was held within the framework of the project “Preventing domestic violence through institutional coordination”. During the discussions, the risks associated with the uncontrolled use of social networks, the mechanisms for reporting cases of online violence and the role of institutions in identifying and handling them were addressed. The students were informed about the importance of protecting personal data and using the internet safely.  

In the framework of the implementation of the Grant Scheme, on 3rd June 2026, a meeting was organized in the Municipality of Vau Dejes with members of the Coordinated Referral Mechanism (CRM), which was initiated by the NGO ‘Woman to Woman’. The activity aimed to inform and discuss the latest changes in the legal framework for the prevention and treatment of domestic violence, as well as to reflect on their impact on institutional work. The meeting was attended by representatives from institutions and member organizations of the CRM, including structures of education, police, social services, health and civil society organizations. This broad representation enabled an important exchange of experiences and an inter-institutional discussion on the challenges of implementing the legislation. During the activity, the legal changes were presented and an open discussion was held with active participation and high interest from the attendees, who shared experiences and concrete cases from their practice. Several important challenges in implementation were identified, including the non-full implementation of the Order for Preliminary Measures of Immediate Protection, the difficulties of women in rural areas in employment and access to professional training, as well as the lack of regular meetings of the CRM, which affects inter-institutional coordination. The continuous work with family assessments for the cases handled was highlighted as a strong point. In conclusion, the importance of strengthening cooperation and continuing similar activities was highlighted.  

The “Veteran Athletes of Albania” NGO, in implementation of the project “Sport & Security – Community Policing through Awareness and Athletics”, part of the second round of the Grant Scheme, organized awareness and sports activities, during May 2026, at the “Osman Myderizi” school and the “Kristaq Rama” school. Topics covered during the session included topics such as prevention of bullying and violence at school, peaceful conflict management, online safety and protection from digital risks, safe use of social networks, the importance of reporting problematic cases to teachers, parents or the Police, the role of the State Police in protecting young people and the community. The activities included around 120 students aged 12-15 from these two 9-year schools of the Municipality of Tirana, with the active participation of representatives of Community Policing Officers, pedagogical staff and the project team.  

On 02-04 June 2026,  General Patrol Officers and Command and Control Room personnel from Kukes Local Police Directorate participated in the training delivered by SCPA PMT. During this training the trainees were introduced to both theoretical and practical exercises and group work by focusing on CP philosophy and implementation of its elements into the daily routine of ASP officers. In addition, they were presented with situations/practical exercises to be handled with and solved by them as they work in groups with the aim of providing measures to be taken proactively in order to implement the CP elements. Special attention was given to the theoretical and practical treatment of cases of Domestic Violence. In order to provide a comprehensive training module on CP SCPA cooperated with Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), whose experts provided interactive lecturing on Countering Violent Extremism. Best EU practices on CP philosophy implementation were shared with the ASP officers. At the end of such training the ASP officers are able to enhance their knowledge and capacities on implementation of CP.  

Young high school students in their second year at “Abdulla Keta” High School took part in an awareness session on community policing and gender-based violence, where they discussed healthy relationships, social pressure, bullying and digital safety. Through various interactive exercises and group discussions, participants shared their thoughts and reflections on the importance of respect, healthy communication and the role that young people have in creating a safer and more supportive community for each other. They were also informed about reporting mechanisms, institutions where they can turn and the role of community policing in preventing and addressing cases of violence, including digital violence. The activity was held on 26 May 2026 by “Edlira Haxhiymeri Shelter” NGO, in collaboration with the Municipality of Tirana, within the framework of the “Strengthening Community Policing in Albania (SCPA)” Program.  

In the framework of the SCPA Program, “Edlira Haxhiymeri Shelter” NGO, in cooperation with the Municipality of Tirana, held a meeting with members of the Interdisciplinary Technical Teams and local institutions on the management and registration of domestic violence cases. The participants discussed the innovations of Law No. 11/2026 “On Prevention and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence”, including the prohibition of mediation, the obligation to report, new forms of violence against women and girls, such as digital violence and harassment in public spaces. The meeting also aimed at strengthening the core Interdisciplinary Technical Teams at the administrative unit level for a more coordinated response to cases.