The authorities in North Macedonia are committed to continue to work closely with the EU and the Council of Europe through the Horizonal Facility II programme, to advance the identification, protection of, and assistance to victims of human trafficking, in line with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. This was the main message of the third Steering Committee meeting of the Horizontal Facility Action “Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in North Macedonia” organised on-line on 8 October.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Council of Europe, the European Union Delegation, the National Commission for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration, the National Referral Mechanism, the State Inspectorate of Labour, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Bureau for Development of Education, the Academy for judges and prosecutors, the Secretariat for European Affairs, the Ombudsperson as well civil society organisations and others.
The participants got acquainted with the current situation and trends regarding the trafficking in human beings in North Macedonia, presented by Svetlana VLAHOVIC, Deputy National Coordinator, National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration.
The Steering Committee members positively noted that the action has continued to empower relevant institutions and professionals though capacity-building and legislative support.
- Despite the pandemics, during the period March-July 2020, two online HELP courses (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) on Trafficking in Human Beings were conducted and 48 participants will be certified (31 attorneys at law and 17 judges and investigators). Participants showed great interest in the report on the position and rights of trafficking victims in judicial proceedings, which will be supplemented by a brochure on free legal representation of victims.
- A great majority (90%) of the labour inspectors in the country hae received basic knowledge on recognising human trafficking for labour exploitation. Newly recruited inspectors will be supported in learning and developing skills in the field.
- Media representaties were enabled to appropriately report on human trafficking cases in a fact-based and victim-respectful manner.
- Grant-based awareness raising campaigns on trafficking for labour exploitation implemented by specialised civil society organisations are about to end, while campaigns on trafficking in children will start and reach out regions and groups most at risk (Roma children and children with special needs).
- Launching of information sessions for parents, teachers and children in schools about risks and forms of child trafficking are imminent, so are the trainings for advisors of the Bureau for Development of Education on detecting, identifying and referring children, potential victims of trafficking.
The discussion was focused also on the challenges and priorities to be tackled during the implementation of the joint cooperation between the North Macedonian stakeholders, the European Union and the Council of Europe. The participants endorsed the milestones to be achieved for the upcoming period and expressed the value of the action in these challenging times of pandemics.
This event is organised in the framework of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”, a co-operation initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe
