S2E9: Albania's Elections: Ultimate Test for Democracy

Albania heads to the polls on Sunday (April 25th) following an 8-year, increasingly authoritarian rule of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Our guest, Albi Çela, stresses it will also be a major test for Albania’s fragile democracy, as the government introduces measures intended to pressure voters and suppress a high turnout.   At Civil Rights Defenders we're encouraging wider youth participation in the elections by launching Vota Vlen (Your Vote Counts), a platform that educates and engages first-time voters in the process.

Om Podcasten

Democracy and the rule of law are coming under growing strain , while those who stand up to abuses of power and human rights violations face intimidations and physical attacks. Governments shamelessly mobilise institutions, state-controlled media, as well as organised right-wing groups, to silence and suppress their struggle for freedom. Against the odds, Human Rights Defenders continue their fight and this podcast series aims to relay their voices to the wider world. From activists to academics, independent journalists and human rights lawyers, we’ll hear about their experiences of defending our fundamental rights from the frontlines. Why they committed their lives to their cause; what have been the main obstacles in their journey; what support should be provided to victims; how to effectively monitor and communicate violations, as well as a general outlook on the human rights situation in their region, are some of the many topics we will cover with guests.