INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS IN ALBANIA. AN ANALYSIS BASED ON POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

This study analyzes the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Albania’s social protection system, through a comparison and assessment of its compliance with international human rights standards, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (United Nations, 2006). It employs a qualitative content analysis of strategic and institutional documents regulating the social protection system in Albania. This approach seeks to identify how the principles of inclusion, equality, and the bio-psycho-social model are reflected in public policies. The document selection was purposeful and guided by the objectives of the study. The findings indicate that social protection policies address disability in a partial and fragmented manner, with only incomplete implementation of the bio-psycho-social model in the processes of needs assessment and benefit determination (MSHMS, 2018; MSHMS, 2022). The lack of inter-institutional coordination, limited accessibility, and insufficient professional capacity among social workers significantly undermine the system’s effectiveness. The study recommends the systematic integration of a disability perspective in the design, implementation, and monitoring of social protection policies, along with the strengthening of institutional and professional capacities to ensure a comprehensive and dignified approach for all persons with disabilities.