The Interreligious Council of Albania has reacted publicly regarding the approval of the Clinical Practice Guideline “On the hormonal treatment of transgender persons”, approved by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with Order No. 304, dated April 28, 2026. Through an official statement, the Interreligious Council states that such issues, due to their social, ethical, medical and anthropological impact, require full institutional transparency, broad professional consultation and informed public debate.

According to the statement, any medical protocol or intervention with long-term physical, psychological and social consequences must be based on clear scientific standards, a solid legal basis and transparent decision-making procedures, in accordance with constitutional principles and the protection of public health. The Interreligious Council of Albania calls on the responsible institutions to publish the scientific and medical basis on which the guideline was drafted, the scientific, medical and ethical reasoning that justified its adoption, the legal basis on which the decision-making is based, as well as the criteria that led to the inclusion of minors in this regulation.

The statement also raises questions about the legal basis that authorizes medical personnel to apply hormonal treatments to transgender persons, arguing that the current Albanian legislation does not provide for a specific legal framework that regulates in detail the legal status, clinical criteria and procedures for this category. The Council assesses that, due to the complex nature of hormonal treatments and the possible long-term consequences, a broad national debate is necessary with the participation of experts in medicine, bioethics, psychology, law and representatives of civil society.

In the concluding part of the statement, the Interreligious Council reiterates the position of the religious communities it represents, according to which human identity and the difference between man and woman are considered a fundamental part of human nature. For this reason, the institution expresses reservations and concerns regarding medical interventions aimed at changing biological gender characteristics, considering them contrary to religious tradition and the values ​​on which, according to it, society is built. The Interreligious Council of Albania emphasizes that its mission remains the protection of human dignity, family, moral order and public interest, while calling on institutions for responsibility, transparency and respect for fundamental social values.

PUBLIC STATEMENTS
On the Clinical Practice Guideline “On the hormonal treatment of transgender persons”.
The Interreligious Council of Albania has closely followed the approval of the Clinical Practice Guideline "On the hormonal treatment of transgender persons", approved by Order No. 304, dated 28.04.2026, of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
In respect of the constitutional order of the Republic of Albania, and the competencies of public institutions in the field of health, the Interreligious Council of Albania assesses that issues of this nature, due to their social, ethical, medical and anthropological impact, require full institutional transparency, broad professional consultation and informed public debate.
In order to protect the public interest, the Interfaith Council considers that any medical protocol or intervention with potentially long-term physical, psychological and social consequences must be based on clear scientific standards, a stable legal basis and transparent decision-making procedures, in accordance with the constitutional principles of proportionality, legal certainty and the protection of public health.
For this reason, the Interreligious Council requests that responsible institutions make public:
– The scientific and medical basis on which this guide was developed;
– The scientific, medical and ethical reasoning justifying the approval of this order through an accelerated procedure;
– The legal basis and legal powers on which its adoption is based;
– The justification and criteria on which the category of minors was included in this regulation.
The Interreligious Council also considers that the legal basis on which medical personnel are authorized to apply hormonal treatments to transgender persons requires public clarification, given that current Albanian legislation does not provide for a specific legal framework that regulates in detail the legal status, clinical criteria, medical procedures and treatment standards for this category of persons.
Given the complex nature and long-term medical, psychological and social consequences of hormonal treatments, the Interfaith Council assesses that a broad national debate and multidisciplinary consultation with experts in medicine, bioethics, psychology, law and representatives of civil society is necessary, with the aim of guaranteeing transparency, legal certainty and public trust with institutional responsibility, ethical language and respect for the dignity of every person.
The Interreligious Council of Albania reiterates that, in accordance with the teachings and traditions of the religious communities it represents, human identity and the distinction between man and woman are considered a fundamental part of human nature given by God. In this sense, we express reservations and concern towards medical interventions or practices aimed at artificially changing biological gender characteristics, considering that such procedures affect the natural concept of the human person and the family, according to religious tradition and the values ​​on which our society is built. Our mission remains the commitment to the protection of human dignity, family, moral order and public interest, calling for institutional responsibility, transparency and respect for fundamental human and social values.
ICNFSH Presidency Board