The lack of shelters, the delay in adopting the strategy for the prevention of violence, the coordination between institutions, and the need for more accessible services remain among the main concerns for victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence in North Macedonia. Mollëkuqja interviewed the State Secretary at the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Fatmir Sabriu, about all of these issues.
Why has the strategy for the prevention of and protection from gender-based violence and domestic violence still not been adopted, where has the process stalled, and why are institutions delaying on such an urgent matter?
The Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, with the support of experts from UN agencies in the Republic of North Macedonia, developed the "National Strategy for the Prevention of and Protection from Gender-Based Violence against Women and Domestic Violence 2026–2033, with the Action Plan 2026–2029." In the past period, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, it held three public debates in Tetovo, Štip and Skopje with representatives from local institutions, namely: municipal coordinators and deputy coordinators for equal opportunities, representatives from the Centres for Social Work in the surrounding region, and representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, healthcare institutions, the Civil Court, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the non-governmental sector working on the prevention, protection and support of victims of gender-based violence against women and domestic violence.
The aim of the strategy is to create an integrated approach that links different competences, services and sectors into a common system for prevention, protection and support, based on the principle of due diligence. Particular focus is placed on creating sustainable coordination mechanisms, continuous training, and improving access to justice and specialised services, including for women who face multiple and intersectional discrimination.
Currently, the National Strategy for the Prevention of and Protection from Gender-Based Violence against Women and Domestic Violence 2026–2033, with the Action Plan 2026–2029, has been submitted to ENER for the involvement of the wider public in the process of adopting such an important document, and in the coming period it will be submitted to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for its adoption.
Despite the obligations arising from the Istanbul Convention, in many regions of the country there is a lack of shelters and specialised services for victims of violence. Why does the Ministry not provide equal protection for all women and girls?
According to the Register of Licensed Providers of Social Services, there are currently a total of 8 registered service providers for women victims of gender-based violence and victims of domestic violence.
The Ministry supports and promotes specialised services for victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence, which include: counselling and psychosocial support in counselling centres, and temporary accommodation in Centres for Women Victims of Gender-Based Violence/Domestic Violence in the Polog region, Tetovo, Gostivar, the South-Western region; Eastern region: Ohrid, Eastern region: Štip, Kočani, South-Eastern region: Strumica, North-Eastern region: Kumanovo, Vardar region: Veles, Kavadarci, Pelagonia region: Prilep, Bitola, and the Skopje region.
The Commission for the Licensing of Social Service Providers, established by the Ministry, carries out the licensing of counselling centres and shelters in North Macedonia in accordance with the Law on Social Protection and the by-laws of the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, with the aim of improving the conditions for the care of victims.
Service providers offer protection and accommodation for victims, the provision of counselling and psychological assistance for women, care for children and other victims of domestic violence, referral to healthcare institutions, the police, NGOs and courts, and so on, through a multisectoral approach involving the Centres for Social Work, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health.
A strategic priority of the Ministry is the development of additional support services, including the expansion of the capacities of shelters, which is also envisaged in the "National Strategy for the Prevention of and Protection from Gender-Based Violence against Women and Domestic Violence 2026–2033, with the Action Plan 2026–2029," thereby achieving the overall goal of creating an effective system for the protection and support of victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence.
Organisations working with victims often warn of a lack of coordination between the police, the centres for social work, the prosecution and the courts. In your view, what are the main institutional shortcomings that are making the system ineffective in handling cases of gender-based violence?
Multisectoral cooperation represents a key precondition for an effective response to gender-based violence and domestic violence. With the adoption of the Protocol on Mutual Cooperation for Undertaking Measures for the Prevention, Suppression of and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in 2023, a framework was created for coordinated and gender-sensitive action by the centres for social work, the police, healthcare and educational institutions, the prosecution offices, the courts, and civil society organisations. There is a need for the continuous implementation of the Protocol and the development of specialised mechanisms for addressing digital gender-based violence.
Training on the multisectoral approach is being carried out continuously together with all stakeholders, and the new strategy also envisages specialised training, including on the new forms of violence, digital gender-based violence, and an intersectional approach to action.
The Law on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence is currently being amended by the Working Group, composed of members appointed by the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Basic Court, associations, academic professors, and other competent institutions and organisations that, through their work or the scope of their competence, are connected to the issue of violence against women and domestic violence.
The Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth and the Minister of the Interior monitor the activities of the working group and participate in its meetings in accordance with the current needs of the process. The members of the working group are responsible for coordinating the preparation and amendment of laws within the scope of the work of their institutions, in accordance with the legal competences of the ministries.
The working group was formed by the National Coordination Body for the Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, in order to monitor, analyse and provide recommendations for improvement, prevention and protection, with proposed amendments to national legislation.
How much specific funding has the Ministry allocated for this year for the prevention of gender-based violence and for support services such as shelters, psychological counselling and legal aid, and do you think this funding is realistic for the needs on the ground?
The total amount of funds for financing the programme activities of the national disability organisations and their associations, of the associations for combating domestic violence, and of the Red Cross of the Republic of Macedonia is provided in accordance with the Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games and the Decision on the allocation of revenues from games of chance and entertainment games for financing the programme activities of the national organisations of persons with disabilities, their associations, the associations for combating domestic violence, and the Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia.
The distribution of the total amount of the secured financial funds is determined in the Programme for Financing the Programme Activities of the National Disability Organisations, their associations and federations, of the associations for combating domestic violence, and of the Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia from the revenues from games of chance and entertainment games for financing the programme activities of the associations for combating domestic violence, and in accordance with the Decision on Financing the Programme Activities of the Associations for Combating Domestic Violence; and for 2026 the total amount is MKD 6,000,000.00, distributed among seven service providers.
