Albania

Approved by referendum on 22 November 1998, promulgated on 28 November 1998, amended in January 2007
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Article 15

  1. The fundamental human rights and freedoms are indivisible, inalienable, and inviolable and stand at the base of the entire juridical order.
  2. The organs of public power, in fulfillment of their duties, shall respect the fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as contribute to their realization.

Article 16

  1. The fundamental rights and freedoms and the duties contemplated in this Constitution for Albanian citizens are also valid for foreigners and stateless persons in the territory of the Republic of Albania, except for cases when the Constitution specifically attaches the exercise of particular rights and freedoms with Albanian citizenship.
  2. The fundamental rights and freedoms and the duties contemplated in this Constitution are valid also for juridical persons so long as they comport with the general purposes of these persons and with the core of these rights, freedoms and duties.

Article 18

  1. All are equal before the law.
  2. No one may be unjustly discriminated against for reasons such as gender, race, religion, ethnicity, language, political, religious or philosophical beliefs, economic condition, education, social status, or parentage.
  3. No one may be discriminated against for the reasons mentioned in paragraph 2 without a reasonable and objective justification

Article 25

No one may be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment.

Article 54

  1. Children, the young, pregnant women and new mothers have the right to special protection by the state.
  2. Children born out of wedlock have rights equal to those born within marriage.
  3. Every child has the right to be protected from violence, ill treatment, exploitation and from performing any work, especially under the minimum age for child labor, which could damage his health and morals or endanger his life or normal development.

Article 55

  1. Citizens enjoy in an equal manner the right to health care from the state.
  2. Everyone has the right to health insurance in accordance with the procedure provided bylaw.

Article 56

  1. Everyone has the right to be informed about the status of the environment and its protection.

Article 59

1. The state, within its constitutional powers and the means at its disposal, and to supplement private initiative and responsibility, aims at:

  1. employment under suitable conditions for all persons who are able to work;
  2. fulfillment of the housing needs of its citizens;
  3. the highest possible standard of physical and mental health;
  4. education and qualification of children and the young, as well as unemployed persons, according to their abilities;
  5. a healthy and ecologically adequate environment for the present and future generations;
  6. the rational exploitation of forests, waters, pastures and other natural resources on the basis of the principle of sustainable development;
  7. care and help for the aged, orphans and persons with disabilities; ë. the development of sport and recreational activities;
  8. health rehabilitation, specialized education and integration of disabled people into society, and continual improvement of their living conditions;
  9. the protection of national cultural heritage and particular care for the Albanian language.

2. Fulfillment of social objectives cannot be claimed directly in court. The law defines under what conditions and to what extent the realization of these objectives can be claimed.