News
High-level officials of North Macedonia discussed necessary interventions following latest report of the Council of Europe Committee against Torture
In a high-level meeting, senior officials working on prison reform discussed the way forward to address the key challenges stemming from the main findings of the European Committee against Torture (CPT) 2023 report on North Macedonia. The event was attended by the State Secretary of the Ministry...
a public initiative to raise awareness on the fight against child trafficking for forced marriages to kick off in North Macedonia
"Change Your Mind - Stay Out of the Vicious Circle”
Forced child marriage is one of the common types of human trafficking, spiralling out of the circle of poverty. A significant number of the child trafficking victims in North Macedonia are victims of trafficking for forced marriage, who are often sexually abused and exploited for their labour. To...
Strong joint action needed that will foremost protect youth and children
TRAFFICKERS EASIER RECRUIT, CONTROL AND EXPLOIT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
How to meet the challenges posed by the growing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the recruitment, control and exploitation of victims of human trafficking? More than 60 national and regional experts met at a two-day conference in Sarajevo on 2 and 3 October 2024 to...
New amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid adopted by the Parliament in North Macedonia
On 17 September 2024 the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia adopted the amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid (FLA) to offer a better alignment with the Law on Expertise. These changes accomodate all of the Council of Europe recommendations produced under the FLA action, and are...
Study on preventing child trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, begging and forced marriages in North Macedonia reveals factual situation and trends
According to the 2023 third evaluation report on North Macedonia of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking of the Council of Europe, most of the trafficking victims are children. Although most of the trafficked children were subjected to sexual exploitation, child trafficking for the...
NORTH MACEDONIA RATIFIES THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONVENTION ON ACCESS TO OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
The Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia, on its 12th session held on 13 August 2024, adopted the Law on Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents, also known as the Tromsø Convention. With this ratification, North Macedonia becomes the 16th country...
European Commission against Racism аnd Intolerance Recommendation on preventing and combating intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons, available in Macedonian
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance’s (ECRI) General Policy Recommendation No.17 on preventing and combating intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons is now available in Macedonian! Published in September 2023, the document recognises the continuing challenges for the...
Why teaching Roma history – and the Roma Holocaust – is more important than ever
Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, 2 August, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, made the following statement: Strasbourg, 01.08.2024 – “On the night of 2–3 August 1944, over 3,000 Roma women, men and children were exterminated in the gas chambers of...
Attorneys in North Macedonia deepen their knowledge in addressing ethical dilemmas
42 attorneys from North Macedonia successfully completed the online HELP (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) course on “Ethics for judges, prosecutors and lawyers.” The course covers in an interactive way the key concepts, the International and European framework and the relevant...
Love wins at this year’s Skopje Pride!
Under the motto “Spectacularly Disobedient”, the fifth Skopje Pride took place with the participation of LGBTI community, human rights activists, civil society, international representatives and citizens of North Macedonia. The Skopje Pride is an annual event happening every June to celebrate...
Partners and beneficiaries confirm co-operation in the fight against economic crime in North Macedonia
The third Steering Committee Meeting of the ”Action against Economic Crime in North Macedonia” brought together in Skopje diverse stakeholders, including representatives from various public institutions, European Union and the Council of Europe. The meeting was an opportunity to review...
Lawyers in North Macedonia enhance their skills for providing Free Legal Aid
Lawyers providing secondary legal aid are crucial in ensuring access to justice and the effective protection of human rights in line with European standards. Supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe’s joint programme, “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” and...
Enhancing the capacity of supervisory authorities in combating terrorism in North Macedonia
Seventeen representatives from key financial supervisory authorities in North Macedonia, including the Financial Intelligence Office, National Bank, Securities and Exchange Commission, Agency for Supervision of Insurance and the Public Revenue Office completed a training on combating terrorism...
Second meeting of National Focal Points under the Council of Europe 'Journalists Matter' Campaign
The second meeting on the National Focal Points to the Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists- Journalists Matter took place in Strasbourg on 20-21 June 2024. After a first inaugural meeting National Focal Points under the Journalists Matter Campaign that coincided with the...
Empowering Legal Professionals on Freedom of Expression: Advanced Training of Trainers Kicks Off in North Macedonia
Building on the successful co-operation with the training institutions in North Macedonia, the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors and the North Macedonia Bar Association, an advanced training for trainers on freedom of expression, specifically tailored for legal professionals, was...
Anti-trafficking partners and beneficiaries confirm their co-operation to advance the fight against trafficking in North Macedonia
The third multi-agency Steering Committee meeting of the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia” was held in Skopje. Representatives from the EU Delegation, the Ministry of Social Protection, Demography and Youth, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
Revising oversight procedures in North Macedonia’s prisons
Improving the prison oversight and reporting procedures put in place by the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions (DES) of North Macedonia was in the focus of the working group that met on 17-18 June 2024. Guided by a Council of Europe international consultant, the DES oversight team visited...
Council of Europe reaffirms commitment to advance support for LGBTI rights and freedom of expression
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has reaffirmed its support for the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and assembly for LGBTI people across member states. In its last meeting PACE approved the Resolution 2543 (2024) on Freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people...
Council of Europe continues to support North Macedonia in preparing a National Risk Assessment
Action against Economic Crime in North Macedonia has been supporting the country’s authorities in conducting the national money laundering and financing of terrorism risk assessment (NRA) since September 2023. This support was launched with a workshop on 20 September 2023, bringing together the...
Advancing “Quality Education for All" – Study Visit to Croatia
In early June 2024, a delegation of 21 education professionals from North Macedonia embarked on a study visit to Croatia. This initiative was organised by the Council of Europe Action “Quality Education for All” – North Macedonia, funded by Germany, in cooperation with the Network of Education...
