The European Day of Justice 2022 was marked today in North Macedonia with a high-level conference organised in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice. The conference took stock of the results of the awareness raising campaign on free legal aid in North Macedonia, an initiative of the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Supporting enhanced access to higher quality free legal aid services in North Macedonia”. Representatives from the Ministry of Justice and its Regional Offices, international organisations, civil society, legal clinics and other legal professionals gathered to exchange their views, highlighting successes and challenges concerning the efforts to increase citizens’ access to justice.
Nikola Tupanceski - Minister of Justice of North Macedonia underlined that all citizens should have guaranteed access to justice and to a fair trial. “The free legal aid system guarantees that citizens who are in a difficult financial situation can turn to the legal aid providers and ask for legal aid and a lawyer paid by the state. Justice delayed is justice denied” said Tupanceski.
In his address, Christophe Poirel - Director of Human Rights Directorate at the Council of Europe focused on the progress made in securing Free Legal Aid services in North Macedonia. He underlined that public awareness and information are essential. “By providing free legal assistance to those who cannot afford it, the legal aid system contributes to a more just and equal society where justice is accessible to everybody, without discrimination. A society where everyone can – and must - fully enjoy their human rights, regardless of their background and social or economic situation”, said Poirel.
Marie-Madeleine Kanellopoulou - Head of Operations at the EU Delegation in Skopje, spoke about the support that the EU has so far provided to improve justice, stressing the importance of informing the citizens about the Free Legal Aid services. “This campaign is good opportunity for people to know, be aware and use the tools at their disposal” concluded Kanellopoulou.
Ljubomir Mihajlovski - President of the Bar Association noted the important role that attorneys at law play in providing Free Legal Aid, stressing that the attorneys at law have responsibility to help citizens get justice.
The European Union and the Council of Europe have celebrated the European Day of Justice since 2004, aiming to bring justice closer to citizens and to inform them on their rights and opportunities to receive legal aid services. The awareness raising campaign on free legal aid in North Macedonia, launched in October 2020 has reached over half a million people, informing them on how to access and benefit from legal aid services, with a special focus on women and vulnerable groups. As a result, the number of people who have requested primary legal aid through the Ministry of Justice Regional Offices have tripled and the total number of approved requests for secondary legal aid have increased by 125%.
The event is organised with the support of the European Union and Council of Europe joint action “Supporting enhanced access to higher quality Free Legal Aid services in North Macedonia”, which is a part of the programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019 – 2022”, in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice of North Macedonia.
