Albanian Helsinki Committee

The Albanian Helsinki Committee was founded in December 1990 at a time when the country was transitioning into a democratic state. Set up by a group of notable intellectuals, it started out as the Albanian Forum for the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights, later becoming the Committee. The organisation’s original mission was to defend the rights of those who had been persecuted under the totalitarian regime of Enver Hoxha, leading the way in introducing the country to concepts of human rights and international standards. Today the organisation is seen as one of the most prominent human rights organisations in Albania. The Committee works on issues of torture and detention, as well as overseeing elections, providing legal aid, and overseeing legal and institutional reforms to ensure they meet rule of law and human rights standards.