As part of its candidature for the Council, Albania submitted a "pledge" to protect human rights. Here's what a large majority of UN states evidently took seriously:
- "Albania has actively embraced and promoted the ideals and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations...The Republic of Albania remains committed to promoting multilateralism as an effective tool in the protection and promotion of human rights. Albania is further fully committed to the universal promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
- "Security forces committed human rights abuses. The most significant human rights problems were: pervasive corruption in all branches of government, and particularly within the judicial system; the stalling of the reform agenda, in particular the fight against corruption, as the political parties focused on the June elections; and domestic violence and discrimination against women. Other human rights problems included police beating and other mistreatment of suspects during detention and interrogation, sometimes to elicit confessions; substandard prison conditions; an inefficient judiciary subject to political pressure and corruption; and child abuse. Displaced and street children remained a problem, particularly within the Romani community. Marginalization and abuse of the Romani and Balkan Egyptian communities were serious problems. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity was a problem. Cases of trafficking in persons continued to be reported. Impunity remained a problem. Government efforts to prosecute officials who committed abuses were sporadic and inconsistent. Government officials and politicians, as well as judges and those with powerful business interests, often were able to avoid prosecution."