Unity for Human Rights Party
Encyclopedia
The Unity for Human Rights Party is a centrist, liberal-inclined party in Albania
. Founded in 1992, it represents Albania's minorities and is mainly related to the Greek minority as it is the political continuation of the Democratic Union of the Greek Minority (Omonoia)
.
which are part of the 'Greek minority zone' (in Dropull
, Dhivër
, Pogon
, Mesopotam
, Finiq
, Livadhja
, Aliko
) in addition to Himara.
The Unity for Human Rights Party joined a Socialist
-led coalition in 1997. In the 2001 elections it received 2.6% of the vote and three members of parliament. At the elections
of July 2005 it received 4.1% of the vote and two seats in parliament. The party leader is Vangjel Dule, while party member Vasil Bollano and Omonoia leader has served in the past as mayor of Himarë
.
At the latest national elections of Albania in July 2009 the party received around 1,19% of the vote and one seat on the Albanian parliament. The only current deputy of the party in the Albanian parliament is Vangjel Dule, its leader.
In the 2011 local elections the party lost all of its municipal councillors in Gjirokastër
and Delvinë
, the capitals of two of its main electoral areas as well as one its two municipal seats in Sarandë
. In Shkodër
it maintained its seat and also gained one of the seats in Korçë
as well as the mayorship in nine communes. PBNJ received a 2,59% of the vote countrywide.
, the Albanian government will fine 1,000$ every citizen that will declare an ethnicity other than what was written down on his or her birth certificate, even if this certificate was writtedn during the pre-1989 communist regime where minority status was limited to the 'minority zones' and a great number of minority members where forced to renounce their minority status. Unity for Human Rights Party responded that such a procedure contains serious irregularities and called its members to abstain from the census.
This is believed to be an attempt to intimidate minorities into declaring Albanian ethnicity, as the Albanian government has furthermore additionally stated that it will jail anyone who does not participate in the census or refuse to declare his or her ethnicity.
As a result of these developments, organizations that represent five minority groups in Albania decided unanimously to boycott to upcoming census. Moreover, the Greek government calls for its Albanian counterpart to take urgent action since the right of free self-determination of the minorities isn't guaranteed with this proccedure.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Founded in 1992, it represents Albania's minorities and is mainly related to the Greek minority as it is the political continuation of the Democratic Union of the Greek Minority (Omonoia)
Omonoia (organization)
Omonoia is a social, political and cultural organization in Albania that promotes minority rights for the Greek minority in the south of the country....
.
Election results
The party usually wins the plurality of seats as a single party in communesCommunes of Albania
-Berat County:* Bogovë, with 9 villages* Çepan, with 14 villages* Gjerbes, with 14 villages* Kozare, with 11 villages* Leshnjë, with 8 villages* Perondi, with 7 villages* Potom, with 12 villages* Roshnik, with 13 villages* Sinjë, with 14 villages...
which are part of the 'Greek minority zone' (in Dropull
Dropull
Dropull is a predominantly Greek-inhabited region in Gjirokastër District, in southern Albania. The region stretches from south of the city of Gjirokastër to the Greek-Albanian border, along the Drinos river. The region's villages are part of the Greek "minority zone" recognized by the Albanian...
, Dhivër
Dhivër
Dhivër is a municipality in the Sarandë District, Vlorë County, southern Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Dhivër, Rumanxë, Memoraq, Navaricë, Dermish, Leshnicë e Sipërme, Leshnicë e Poshtme, Janicat, Llupsat, Cerkovicë, Shëndre and Malcan....
, Pogon
Pogon
Pogoń or Pahonia , meaning The Chase, also Vytis in Lithuanian language, represents a Knight-in-pursuit coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and of several of its noble families:* Pogoń Litewska Coat of Arms, the original variant...
, Mesopotam
Mesopotam
Mesopotam is a municipality in the Delvinë District, Vlorë County, southern Albania.. The municipality consists of the villages Mesopotam, Kardhikaq, Pecë, Muzinë, Dhrovjan, Krongj, Bistricë, Velahovë, Livinë, Brajlat, Sirakat, Kostar, Fitore, Krane and Ardhasovë. Mesopotam in Greek means "between...
, Finiq
Finiq
Finiq is a village and municipality in southern Albania located 8 km from the Ionian Sea and 20 km north of the Greek border. It is part of Delvinë District and Vlorë County. Its inhabitants speak Greek as their mother tongue. It is the center of the commune of Finiq, which comprises the...
, Livadhja
Livadhja
Livadhja is a municipality in the Sarandë District, Vlorë County, southern Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Livadhja, Sopik, Pandalejmon, Kulluricë, Llazat, Kalcat, Kodër, Lefter Talo, Vagalat, Gravë, Qesarat, Komat, Karroq, Grazhdan and Zminec. Some villagers also speak the...
, Aliko
Aliko
Aliko is a municipality in the Sarandë District, Vlorë County, southern Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Aliko, Çaush, Neohor, Tremul, Rahullë, Pllakë, Jermë, Vurgu i Ri, Halo, Dritas and Çukë....
) in addition to Himara.
The Unity for Human Rights Party joined a Socialist
Socialist Party of Albania
The Socialist Party of Albania , is a centre-left, social democraticand socially liberal political party in Albania, it is currently the leading opposition party in Albania. It seats 66 MPs in the 2009 Albanian parliament . It achieved power in 1997 after a political crisis and governmental...
-led coalition in 1997. In the 2001 elections it received 2.6% of the vote and three members of parliament. At the elections
Elections in Albania
Albania holds elections on a national level for a legislature. The Assembly of Albania has 140 members elected for four-year terms. The electoral system is closed list proportional representation. There are 12 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the country's 12 administrative regions...
of July 2005 it received 4.1% of the vote and two seats in parliament. The party leader is Vangjel Dule, while party member Vasil Bollano and Omonoia leader has served in the past as mayor of Himarë
Himarë
Himarë is a bilingual region and municipality along the Albanian Riviera in southern Albania and part of the District of Vlorë. Apart from the town of Himarë, the region consists of 7 other villages: Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Qeparo, Vuno, Iljas, and Palasë....
.
At the latest national elections of Albania in July 2009 the party received around 1,19% of the vote and one seat on the Albanian parliament. The only current deputy of the party in the Albanian parliament is Vangjel Dule, its leader.
In the 2011 local elections the party lost all of its municipal councillors in Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
and Delvinë
Delvinë
Delvinë is a small town in Vlorë County in southern Albania, 16 km northeast of Saranda. Delvinë is the seat of the Delvinë District. Delvinë has lost over a third of its citizens since 1990, having a population of 4,200 .The city is built on a mountain slope...
, the capitals of two of its main electoral areas as well as one its two municipal seats in Sarandë
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
. In Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
it maintained its seat and also gained one of the seats in Korçë
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
as well as the mayorship in nine communes. PBNJ received a 2,59% of the vote countrywide.
Abstention from the 2011 census
In early October 2011, the Albanian government announced that a census will be conducted throughout the country which will counter the exact size of ethnic minorities for the first time after 1989. However, after proposal of the nationalist oriented PDIUParty for Justice, Integration and Unity
The Party for Justice, Integration and Unity is a political party in Albania whose primary aim is promotion of the national issues of Albanians, including Kosovo, Albanians in Macedonia, Montenegro, Presevo valley and especially the Cham issue....
, the Albanian government will fine 1,000$ every citizen that will declare an ethnicity other than what was written down on his or her birth certificate, even if this certificate was writtedn during the pre-1989 communist regime where minority status was limited to the 'minority zones' and a great number of minority members where forced to renounce their minority status. Unity for Human Rights Party responded that such a procedure contains serious irregularities and called its members to abstain from the census.
This is believed to be an attempt to intimidate minorities into declaring Albanian ethnicity, as the Albanian government has furthermore additionally stated that it will jail anyone who does not participate in the census or refuse to declare his or her ethnicity.
As a result of these developments, organizations that represent five minority groups in Albania decided unanimously to boycott to upcoming census. Moreover, the Greek government calls for its Albanian counterpart to take urgent action since the right of free self-determination of the minorities isn't guaranteed with this proccedure.