Forty-six judges and prosecutors participated in the online discussion devoted to the legal protection of trafficking victims in judicial proceedings, on the basis of the “Legal analysis on standing and rights of victims of human trafficking”. The meeting tackled European standards and practices in the area and thirty-three judgments on trafficking cases passed in the last ten years in North Macedonia. The participants pointed out in particular the need to provide legal aid at the earliest stage and the need to protect the privacy and security of trafficked victims during the court proceedings. The participants discussed on the rights of foreign victims, the use of video recording in the communication with victims, prevention of secondary victimisation, provision of free legal aid and procedural safeguards for child victims of trafficking. The adoption of the draft law on Criminal Procedure further harmonising the procedure with relevant European standards was also addressed during the meeting.

Sonja Mojsovska, representative of the Academy for judges and prosecutors, emphasised the importance of organising such capacity building activities which contribute for a more effective and improved victim protection.

The event was organised in partnership with the Academy for judges and prosecutors in North Macedonia. The action “Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in North Macedonia ” is part of the European Union / Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, aiming to assist beneficiaries in South-East Europe to comply with the Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process.