The annual international campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” kicks off every 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day with the aim to ensure global action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts and share knowledge and innovations to end violence against women.

The staff of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje is wearing orange today to support this awareness-raising initiative and thus join the global movement for the elimination of violence against women.

To support this campaign, in the forthcoming days, the joint European Union/Council of Europe Programme ROMACTED II “Promoting good governance and empowerment of Roma at local level” will join the 16 Days of Activism initiative with activities at the local level. In co-operation with ROMACTED partner municipalities and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Programme will organise several informative sessions for Roma and other women concerning the legislation related to gender-based violence in North Macedonia. Representatives from the ROMACTED institutional working groups, such as the Centre for Social Welfare and the Ministry of Interior will deliver presentations and hold open discussions on the applicable legislation on gender equality, protection for victims of gender-based violence and how women can report such violence.