The Constitution of Albania October 21, 1998 

EDUCATION 

Article 24
Everyone is free to choose or to change his religion or beliefs, as well as to express them, individually or collectively, in public or in private life, through (…) education, (…)
Article 57
1. Everyone has the right to education.
2. Mandatory school education is determined by law.
3. General high school public education is open for all.
4. Professional high school education and higher education can be conditioned only on criteria of abilities.
5. Mandatory education and general high school education in public schools are free.
6. Pupils and students may also be educated in private schools of all levels, which are created and operated on the basis of law.
The autonomy and academic freedom of higher education institutions are guaranteed by law.

Article 59
1. The state, within its constitutional powers and the means at its disposal, aims to supplement private initiative and responsibility with:

d) education and qualification according to ability of children and the young, as well as unemployed persons;

2. Fulfilment of social objectives may not be claimed directly in court. The law defines the conditions and extent to which the realization of these objectives can be claimed

CHILD RIGHTS

Article 54
1. Children, the young, pregnant women and new mothers have the right to special protection by the state.

2. Children born out of wedlock have equal rights with those born within marriage.

3. Every child has the right to be protected from violence, ill treatment, exploitation and their use for work, especially under the minimum age for work, which could damage their health and morals or endanger their life or normal development.

EQUALITY

Article 18
1. All are equal before the law.

2. No one may be unjustly discriminated against for reasons such as gender, race, religion, ethnicity, language, political, religious or philosophical beliefs, economic condition, education, social status, or ancestry.

3. No one may be discriminated against for reasons mentioned in paragraph 2 if reasonable and objective legal grounds do not exist.

 DISABILITIES

 Article 59
1. The state, within its constitutional powers and the means at its disposal, aims to supplement private initiative and responsibility with:

g) care and help for the aged, orphans and persons with disabilities;

2. Fulfilment of social objectives may not be claimed directly in court. The law defines the conditions and extent to which the realization of these objectives can be claimed.

CITIZENSHIP

Article 19
1. Everyone born of at least one parent with Albanian citizenship gains automatically Albanian citizenship. Albanian citizenship is gained also for other reasons provided by law.

2. An Albanian citizen may not lose his citizenship, except when he gives it up.

MINORITIES and INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Article 20
1. Persons who belong to national minorities exercise in full equality before the law the human rights and freedoms.

2. They have the right to freely express, without prohibition or compulsion, their ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic belonging. They have the right to preserve and develop it, to study and to be taught in their mother tongue, as well as unite in organizations and societies for the protection of their interests and identity.

LANGUAGE

Article 14
1. The official language in the Republic of Albania is Albanian.

 RELIGION

 Article 10
1. In the Republic of Albania there is no official religion.

2. The state is neutral in questions of belief and conscience, and also, it guarantees the freedom of their expression in public life.

3. The state recognizes the equality of religious communities.

4. The state and the religious communities mutually respect the independence of one another and work together for the good of each of them and for all.

5. Relations between the state and religious communities are regulated on the basis of agreements entered into between their representatives and the Council of Ministers. These agreements are ratified by the Assembly.

6. Religious communities are juridical persons. They have independence in the administration of their properties according to their principles, rules and canons, to the extent that interests of third parties are not infringed.

Article 24
1. Freedom of conscience and of religion is guaranteed.

2. Everyone is free to choose or to change his religion or beliefs, as well as to express them individually or collectively, in public or private life, through cult, education, practices or the performance of rituals.

3. No one may be compelled or prohibited to take part or not in a religious community or in religious practices or to make his beliefs or faith public.

HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

 Article 15
1. The fundamental human rights and freedoms are indivisible, inalienable, and inviolable and stand at the basis of the entire juridical order.

2. The organs of public power, in fulfilment of their duties, shall respect the fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as contribute to their realization.
Article 16
1. The fundamental rights and freedoms and the duties contemplated in this Constitution for Albanian citizens are also valid for foreigners and stateless persons in the territory of the Republic of Albania, except for cases when the Constitution specifically attaches the exercise of particular rights and freedoms with Albanian citizenship.

2. The fundamental rights and freedoms and the duties contemplated in this Constitution are valid also for juridical persons so long as they comport with the general purposes of these persons and with the core of these rights, freedoms and duties.
Article 17
1. The limitation of the rights and freedoms provided for in this Constitution may be established only by law for a public interest or for the protection of the rights of others. A limitation shall be in proportion with the situation that has dictated it.

2. These limitations may not infringe the essence of the rights and freedoms and in no case may exceed the limitations provided for in the European Convention on Human Rights.