Empowering Women’s Rights through Technology
Tirana November 11, 2025Women Empowered Through Technology: Vodafone Albania Foundation Leads the Initiative for Digital Equality and Safety.As part of its commitment to gender equality, protection, and digital safety for women, the Vodafone Albania Foundation, in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and civil society organizations, organized a high-level roundtable in Tirana dedicated to women’s empowerment and the role of digital innovation in safeguarding them.
As part of its commitment to gender equality, protection, and digital safety for women, the Vodafone Albania Foundation, in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and civil society organizations, organized a high-level roundtable in Tirana dedicated to women’s empowerment and the role of digital innovation in safeguarding them.
At the center of the discussion was Bright Sky Albania, a Vodafone Foundation initiative that provides information, support, and practical advice for women and girls at risk of domestic violence.Present at the event, Lisa Felton, Head of the Vodafone Foundation, emphasized the importance of technology as a tool for empowerment and protection:“At Vodafone, we believe technology can address issues related to gender-based violence, abuse, education, and health. The Bright Sky app is a concrete example that provides women and girls experiencing violence with information, support, and practical guidance to help them move away from dangerous situations.”Valbona Kuko, Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Albania, underlined that gender-based violence against women in politics remains one of the main challenges limiting their participation in public life:“For years, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy has worked with political actors, civil society, and the media to bring gender-based violence into the national agenda and raise awareness among politicians, activists, businesses, and journalists that gender equality issues are not private matters. They must be addressed through policymaking, sound legislation, and effective tools that serve citizens. The Bright Sky app, as well as the Foundation’s reporting platform on violence against women and girls, are vital instruments that should be used to report cases institutions must address and resolve.”
The roundtable was attended by MPs Klodiana Spahiu, Eduart Shalsi, and Milva Ekonomi; Iris Luarasi; Jonida Lakuriqi, Chair of the Vodafone Albania Foundation Board; Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare Ina Majko; Ombudsperson Erinda Ballanca; Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination Robert Gajda; and Michele Ribotta, representative of UN Women Albania. Contributions also came from Mirela Arqimandriti, Executive Director of the Gender Alliance for Development Center.Through this initiative, the Vodafone Albania Foundation positions itself as a key actor in the field of social-impact innovation, turning technology into a concrete tool for women’s safety, protection, and empowerment.This event marks an important step toward building a collaborative ecosystem between the public sector, private organizations, and civil society—working together for a safer and more equitable digital future for all women and girls in Albania.Bright Sky | Domestic abuse support, safety resources and support services.
