The EU and Council of Europe are assisting the Commission for Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes in North Macedonia to inform the claimants about the process of examining and claiming state monetary compensation for the victims of violent crimes, including victims of human trafficking. Information materials were produced for claimants of state compensation in Macedonian, Albanian and English language covering major topics including the entitlement to compensation, the submission of the claim and the maximum amount that can be granted by the state for the injustice suffered. The brochures provide key instructions on the types of crime for which a compensation may be sought. They detail the requirements for the victims, the procedure and the types of damages that can be sought. They also draw attention to certain specificities connected with child victims or victims with a disability.
This initiative is following the adoption of the Law on Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes in November 2022, which resulted in the establishment of the Commission for Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes in February 2024. Its task is to examine and grant claims for state monetary compensation of victims of violent crimes, including victims of trafficking. In this framework, the Commission has adopted its Rules of procedure and the claim form. To help victims of these crimes in the process of claiming monetary compensation from the State, information materials were developed with the support of the EU and Council of Europe action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia”.
These efforts aim to support the implementation of the Convention on action against trafficking in human beings which is the key international treaty on protecting and assisting victims of human trafficking. Its Article 15 stipulates that each Party to the Convention shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to guarantee compensation for victims in accordance with the conditions under its internal law, for instance through the establishment of a fund for victim compensation or measures or programmes. The Convention entered into force with respect to North Macedonia on 1 September 2009.
The action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia” is part of the of the European Union and Council of Europe joint initiative “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.
Informational material_Leaflet_MK.pdf
Informational material_Leaflet_EN.pdf
Informational material_Leaflet_AL.pdf
Informational material_Brochure_MK.pdf
Informational material_Brochure_EN.pdf
Informational material_Brochure_AL.pdf