The People's Advocate of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Endrit Shabani, was hosted this week at the US Department of State, in a meeting with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), the structure that compiles the annual US reports on human rights in the world.

During the meeting, the common will to deepen cooperation in the field of human rights, independent monitoring and the rule of law was emphasized.

The reception in Washington was followed by a speech by Mr. Shabani at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where he was invited as a speaker at a high-level international forum on human rights, within the framework of the 19th Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

During his speech, Mr. Shabani called for the removal of barriers that persons with disabilities face in exercising their rights, starting with the right to vote.

“Every society makes a silent decision: whether persons with disabilities will be assisted or respected. And to be respected, they must be allowed to participate as equals,” said the Ombudsman in his speech.

Mr. Shabani also emphasized that independent institutions should serve as a bridge between social programs and public policies, bringing citizens’ concerns directly to the tables where international standards are set.

The Ombudsman will continue to engage with international partners in the implementation of his constitutional mandate, which is based on the protection of the most vulnerable citizens in society.