Drejtave

Drejtave is the Albanian term for rights or entitlements, referring to normative claims that individuals, groups, or communities can hold under law, ethics, and social practice. The concept covers civil, political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions and is used in constitutional discourse, international law, and everyday discussions of justice and fairness.

Etymology and scope: From the root drejt, meaning right or entitlement, drejtave denotes multiple rights. The concept encompasses both universal human rights and specific rights recognized within a country’s legal system, as well as duties and responsibilities that accompany those rights.

Legal framework: Rights are protected by national constitutions, statutes, and administrative laws, and by international agreements to which a state is a party. Key international instruments include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, along with regional instruments such as the European Convention on Human Rights. National courts, ombudspersons, and human rights bodies provide mechanisms to enforce these rights and address violations.

Categories and examples: Rights can be natural or human in origin (e.g., the right to life and freedom from torture), civil and political rights (freedom of expression, assembly, fair trial), economic, social and cultural rights (work, education, health, cultural participation), and collective or group rights (minority rights, sometimes self-determination in certain contexts).

Protection and enforcement: The realization of drejtave relies on state obligations, legal remedies, and independent institutions to monitor compliance, investigate abuses, and provide redress for violations.

In Albanian context: Drejtavet are enshrined in the constitution and national law, and Albania has ratified major international human rights instruments, integrating these standards into legal and policy frameworks.