In a bid to enhance the access to justice for the citizens with special focus on victims of human trafficking in North Macedonia, another group of 20 local lawyers strengthened their capacity to deliver free legal aid and provide victim-centred legal assistance to victims of human trafficking.
The training sessions built upon previously developed materials and approaches, and were led by several experienced trainers, all of whom had completed an intensive Training of Trainers programme in January and February 2024, supported by the Horizontal Facility. Lawyers engaged in practical exercises and case-based discussions aimed at applying theoretical concepts to real-life legal scenarios with special focus on cases involving victims of trafficking. The total number of lawyers and legal professionals from North Macedonia who have completed this course with the support of EU and Council of Europe reached 130. They will be in the forefront of the fight against trafficking in North Macedonia and will assist victims to protect their rights and access legal remedies.
The lawyers extended their knowledge about the Law on Free Legal Aid and the Law on Access to Compensation for Victims of Violent Crimes. One of the main components of the training was enhancing participants’ understanding of European standards, including the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and relevant case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. Participants explored the principles of trauma-sensitive approach when representing and interviewing victims of trafficking, a crucial element in building trust and effectively representing victims.
Interactive methodologies, such as role plays and group work based on realistic case studies, were employed to simulate legal aid procedures and victim representation with a special focus on cases involving domestic and gender-based violence, children, and victims of human trafficking.
This two-day training was organised in co-operation with the Bar Association and its Training Centre within the framework of the actions “Towards a Consolidated and More Efficient Free Legal Aid (FLA) System in North Macedonia” and “Strengthening 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”.