Twelve communication officers of the Ministry of interior (MoI) and journalists participated in a training on victim-oriented and gender-sensitive public reporting related to human trafficking cases. The aim of this activity, supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe was two-fold: to increase the capacities of the participants on public reporting about complex human trafficking cases based on victims’ perspective, as well as to stimulate a networking between the MoI communication officers and journalists of public and private media with respect to fight against human trafficking.

The participants, among other, learnt about concepts and terminology to be used in public when informing and reporting on human trafficking cases, the protection of private data of the trafficking victims and pondered on ethics consideration when illustrating a story with photos and videos. They engaged in working groups through case studies to prepare a public information on human trafficking cases. The discussion forum stimulated an open debate and exchange of experience between the communication officers and journalists.

“Gender inequality directly contributes towards women’s victimhood. The gender inequality manifests as a total dependence on and obedience to father, husband or the family, the responsibility to take care of the family and a lack of employment opportunities”, said Natasa Dokovska, a representative of the NGO Association of Journalists for Human Rights.

The training was organised in the framework of the action “Strengthening anti - trafficking action in North MacedoniaStrengthening anti - trafficking action in North Macedonia”, part of the of the European Union and Council of Europe joint initiative “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” .