The Information and Data Protection Commissioner, Mr. Besnik Dervishi, received the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania, Ms. Ingrid Macdonald, in a meeting.
Dervishi presented the priorities and commitment of the institution he leads, focusing in particular on Law No. 124/2024 “On the Protection of Personal Data”. The Commissioner also highlighted the challenges related to the effective implementation of this law and the guarantee in practice of the constitutional rights of citizens.
He also informed about the international commitment of the Commissioner’s Office, in its capacity as President and Secretariat of the International Conference of Commissioners for the Right to Information (ICIC), as well as on the periodic cooperation with UNESCO in the framework of monitoring and reporting on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, especially “Public Access to Information”. In this context, he also announced the co-organization, in September, of the annual conference with UNESCO on the topic: “Preserving the integrity of information in the digital age”.
For her part, the UN Permanent Coordinator, Ms. Ingrid Macdonald, praised the role and contribution of the Commissioner’s Office, emphasizing the importance of data, especially digital data, as well as the integrity of public information. She underlined the important role of the institution in the European integration process of Albania, highlighting the close cooperation between the UN and the European Union in these areas.
During the discussions, the parties also shared opinions on issues related to access to information for vulnerable groups, data security, digitalization, the use of artificial intelligence, as well as the challenges posed by disinformation and misinformation.
At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Dervishi expressed his readiness to further strengthen cooperation with the UN, especially in terms of increasing institutional capacities and technical support, in view of the institution’s increased legal responsibilities.
From the side of the Commissioner’s Office, the meeting was attended by Ms. Besa Velaj, Director of the Cabinet, and Ms. Emerlinda Pema, Director of Transparency Program Monitoring, while from the UN Office, Ms. Sidita Zaja, Human Rights Specialist, was present.
