News
Love wins at this year’s Skopje Pride!
Under the motto “Spectacularly Disobedient”, the fifth Skopje Pride took place with the participation of LGBTI community, human rights activists, civil society, international representatives and citizens of North Macedonia. The Skopje Pride is an annual event happening every June to celebrate...
Partners and beneficiaries confirm co-operation in the fight against economic crime in North Macedonia
The third Steering Committee Meeting of the ”Action against Economic Crime in North Macedonia” brought together in Skopje diverse stakeholders, including representatives from various public institutions, European Union and the Council of Europe. The meeting was an opportunity to review...
Lawyers in North Macedonia enhance their skills for providing Free Legal Aid
Lawyers providing secondary legal aid are crucial in ensuring access to justice and the effective protection of human rights in line with European standards. Supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe’s joint programme, “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” and...
Enhancing the capacity of supervisory authorities in combating terrorism in North Macedonia
Seventeen representatives from key financial supervisory authorities in North Macedonia, including the Financial Intelligence Office, National Bank, Securities and Exchange Commission, Agency for Supervision of Insurance and the Public Revenue Office completed a training on combating terrorism...
Second meeting of National Focal Points under the Council of Europe 'Journalists Matter' Campaign
The second meeting on the National Focal Points to the Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists- Journalists Matter took place in Strasbourg on 20-21 June 2024. After a first inaugural meeting National Focal Points under the Journalists Matter Campaign that coincided with the...
Empowering Legal Professionals on Freedom of Expression: Advanced Training of Trainers Kicks Off in North Macedonia
Building on the successful co-operation with the training institutions in North Macedonia, the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors and the North Macedonia Bar Association, an advanced training for trainers on freedom of expression, specifically tailored for legal professionals, was...
Anti-trafficking partners and beneficiaries confirm their co-operation to advance the fight against trafficking in North Macedonia
The third multi-agency Steering Committee meeting of the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia” was held in Skopje. Representatives from the EU Delegation, the Ministry of Social Protection, Demography and Youth, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
Revising oversight procedures in North Macedonia’s prisons
Improving the prison oversight and reporting procedures put in place by the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions (DES) of North Macedonia was in the focus of the working group that met on 17-18 June 2024. Guided by a Council of Europe international consultant, the DES oversight team visited...
Council of Europe reaffirms commitment to advance support for LGBTI rights and freedom of expression
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has reaffirmed its support for the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and assembly for LGBTI people across member states. In its last meeting PACE approved the Resolution 2543 (2024) on Freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people...
Council of Europe continues to support North Macedonia in preparing a National Risk Assessment
Action against Economic Crime in North Macedonia has been supporting the country’s authorities in conducting the national money laundering and financing of terrorism risk assessment (NRA) since September 2023. This support was launched with a workshop on 20 September 2023, bringing together the...
Advancing “Quality Education for All" – Study Visit to Croatia
In early June 2024, a delegation of 21 education professionals from North Macedonia embarked on a study visit to Croatia. This initiative was organised by the Council of Europe Action “Quality Education for All” – North Macedonia, funded by Germany, in cooperation with the Network of Education...
Improving public reporting on human trafficking in North Macedonia through a victim-centred approach
Twelve communication officers of the Ministry of interior (MoI) and journalists participated in a training on victim-oriented and gender-sensitive public reporting related to human trafficking cases. The aim of this activity, supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe was two-fold:...
New software for appointment of ex-officio lawyers launched in North Macedonia
The software for appointing ex-officio lawyers, developed with the support of the EU and Council of Europe was officially handed over to the Bar Association of the Republic of North Macedonia. The handover ceremony was attended by representatives from the Bar Association, Council of Europe, and...
Key recommendations on enhanced prevention of various forms of child trafficking endorsed by anti-trafficking actors in North Macedonia
The Sub-group on Child Trafficking of the National Anti-trafficking Commission of North Macedonia gathered in Skopje to discuss concrete ways of preventing child trafficking for labour exploitation, begging and forced marriages. The aim of the Conference, supported by the European Union and the...
Citizens are aware about the role of the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination to ensure equal rights in North Macedonia
The Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination of North Macedonia presented its Annual Report in a public event organised with the support of the EU and Council of Europe. The report highlighted a record-breaking 523 cases submitted to the Commission, the highest in its...
Boosting co-operation with the local actors in North Macedonia to advance the fight against discrimination and hate speech, in line with European standards
Implementing European standards and strong co-operation among all stakeholders is the key to a successful fight against discrimination and hate speech. This was the main message from the third Steering Committee meeting of the action “Combating hatred and intolerance in North Macedonia“ which...
Support for North Macedonia’s Directorate for Execution of Sanctions in setting framework for Prison Police intervention teams
A working group of experienced prison officials and senior representatives of Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions met on 20-21 May 2024 in Skopje, to discuss the regulations of Prison Police intervention teams. Introduced as a novelty by the latest amendments to the Law on the Execution of...
Child protection professionals trained on securing the best interest of the child trafficking victims in North Macedonia
The best interest of the child as a guiding principle for protection of the child trafficking victims was in the focus of a multi-disciplinary capacity building activity on preventing and combating child trafficking, organised in Veles with the support of EU and Council of Europe Thirty-three...
North Macedonia: Workshop on the execution of the European Court’s judgments concerning the right to liberty and security
On 10 May, the Department for the Execution of Judgments took part in a workshop on best practices regarding the execution of the European Court’s judgments in the field of the right to liberty and security of persons (Article 5 of the Convention), which was co-organised with the Academy for...
ENABLING PROACTIVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN NORTH MACEDONIA
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. – paragraph 1, Article 10 of the European Convention for Human Rights. Towards...
