A delegation of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to North Macedonia from 1 to 5 December 2025 as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
This new evaluation round of monitoring the implementation of the Convention focuses on vulnerabilities to human trafficking and measures taken by States Parties to prevent them, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. This includes a focus on the use of information and communication technology (ICT), which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.
Prior to the visit, the authorities of North Macedonia provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA examined how the main recommendations made in its third evaluation report on North Macedonia have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation held meetings with Ms Eva Ilievska, Deputy National Co-ordinator for Fight Against Trafficking in Human Being, as well as with representatives from the Ministry of the Interior (including the Unit for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants), the Ministry of Justice (including the Commission for Monetary Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes and the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors), the Ministry of Economy and Labour (including the State Labour Inspectorate and the Employment Service Agency), the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and Corruption, and the Criminal Court Office of the Basic Court Skopje 1. The visit also provided an opportunity to meet members of the mobile teams for the identification of vulnerable persons in Skopje, Tetovo and Gevgelija.
In addition, the GRETA delegation met with Ms Frosina Kiprovska Lukik, National Rapporteur on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ombudsman’s Office. A meeting was also held with members of the Commission for Political System and the Commission for Defence and Security of the National Assembly.
The GRETA delegation conducted separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, lawyers and victims of human trafficking. Discussions were also held with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) andthe Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation visited the shelter for victims of human trafficking run by NGO Open Gate - La Strada Macedonia, the Gazi Baba Reception Centre for Foreigners, the SOS Village for children and a daycare centre for street children in Skopje, and the Vinojug Temporary Transit Centre for migrants in Gevgelija.
The visit was carried out by Mr David Mancini and Ms Rita Penedo, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Mesut Bedirhanoglu from the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the authorities of North Macedonia for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report in November 2026.
