Association of Women with Social Problems (AWSP) is a non-profit organization, established on 1999, operating in the Durres Region. It aims to promote the gender equality into society and protect the rights of the marginalised women in this Region.  Domestic violence, gender equality, active participation of women in decision- making as well as the integration of the informal areas’ marginalised communities into the mainstream society, are the main issues in the focus of AWSP.

Over already two decades, the Association of Women with Social Problems has been advocating and lobbying on the improvement of the legal, institutional and policy framework with regard to women rights in Albania, as well as pushing forward the governmental authorities to ensure women rights protection and promotion at country level. Concrete lobbying and advocacy initiatives with regard to the community development, with a specific focus on the strengthening of women status in society, has been an important AWSP area.  

AWSP has also been supporting victims of domestic violence and the ones at risk with direct services, including:psycho- social, legal, and medical services, as well as providing reintegration opportunities, including employment opportunities, income generation opportunities etc.

Starting from 2014, the Association has also been focusing in bringing the Women, Peace and Security related issues at the governmental authorities’ agenda. Over the past three years, the Association, with the support of UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, helped draft a National Action Plan (NAP) on UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which was adopted in September 2018. AWSP was instrumental in setting up a coalition, “Women, Peace and Security in Albania”, composed of 20 local organizations.