The new National Strategy on the Development of the Penitentiary System in the Republic of North Macedonia (2021-2025) is an important milestone that will contribute to ensuring a more secure and humane treatment of detained and sentenced persons, and to respecting and protecting their fundamental rights, in line with the European values and standards.
The presentation of the national strategy and the delivery of medical equipment for penitentiary institutions, supported by the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019 – 2022“, took place in Skopje today.
In his address, Agim Nuhiu, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of North Macedonia highlighted the novelties that the implementation of the new Strategy will bring, within the larger reform framework of the Government.
Julian Vassallo, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of North Macedonia underlined that the developed National Strategy is another step in addressing the long-standing challenges, but the key lies in its implementation. Vasallo said that medical care of a standard comparable to that provided outside detention is a right and stressed that strong political will are still needed to bring the conditions of detention up to European standards.
For his part, Marjan Spasovski, Director of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions thanked the European Union and the Council of Europe for the support. “This National Strategy has taken into account the views of all stakeholders – including those of the Ombudsman – and the international monitoring bodies.” , he stated.
Lejla Dervisagic, Head of Operations of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje thanked the participants and the authorities for the co-operation in strengthening the capacity of the national penitentiary system and the provision of health care in prisons. “We shall continue to further support the public authorities in implementing the Strategy, with its stated objective – advancing the penitentiary system in line with the highest European standards for enforcing sanctions and alternative measures,” concluded Dervisagic.
The medical equipment is provided for six penitentiary institutions in North Macedonia, located in Gevgelija, Idrizovo, Prilep, Shtip, Skopje and Tetovo. With a total value exceeding €46,000 the medical equipment, including a dental cabinet and ECG devices for all the six penitentiary institutions, will help to improve health care in penitentiary facilities.
(Pictures from the donated medical equipment can be downloaded here)
This activity is organised in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022", and its action “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia” implemented in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of North Macedonia, and its Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions.
For more information:
Gjakush Kabashi / +38975495495
Besnik Baka / +355692178430
DusanVojnovic / +33390215699
