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 14 to 18 March 2022 as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The visit provided an opportunity to assess progress in the implementation of the Convention since the second evaluation report by GRETA published in 2018. Prior to the visit, the authorities of North Macedonia provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the third evaluation round.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held meetings with the Minister of the Interior, Mr Oliver Spasovski, and the National Rapporteur on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Ms Frosina Kiprovska Lukik. The GRETA delegation also met in Skopje officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Unit of the Ministry of the Interior for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants, the State Labour Inspectorate, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and Corruption, the Criminal Court office of the Basic Court Skopje 1, as well as representatives of the Kumanovo local commission for combating trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. The visit provided an opportunity to meet members of mobile teams and labour inspectors in Skopje, Tetovo and Kumanovo.

Furthermore, 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 relevant international organisations.

In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation visited the Reception Centre for Foreigners, the State shelter for victims of human trafficking, the SOS village for children and a day shelter for street children in Skopje.

The visit was carried out by Ms Julia Planitzer (second Vice-President of GRETA) and Mr Sergey Ghazinyan (member 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 2022.