Strumica, 22 March 2023 - A visit to the organization “Sky Plus” in the municipality of Strumica, which manages the shelter for victims and survivors of gender-based violence, in cooperation with local authorities, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, UNFPA and financially supported by the British Embassy in Skopje, took place today.

This unique model of cooperation with different partners is an example of the advancement of the system for prevention and protection against domestic and gender-based violence, the goal of which is to replicate it in other municipalities across the country.

Photo credit: UNFPA North Macedonia

“The joint actions, support and building a system that will include everyone, as well as encourage those who have been struggling and doubting themselves for years, remain our priority,” said Jovanka Trencevska, Minsiter of Labor and Social Policy, during the visit.

Matthew Lawson, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, indicated that “being in Strumica together with the private sector, the local self-government and the Embassy, is an example of cooperation with international partners.”

Also, present at the event was Kostadin Kostadinov, mayor of the municipality of Strumica, who added that this year Strumica expects to open the so-called house that will take care of the victims after the period of stay in the shelter center; Afrodita Shalja, head of the UNFPA Office in Skopje, who welcomed the cooperation with the partner institutions and organizations to improve the services for victims and survivors; as well as Stojne Miteva, president of “Sky Plus Strumica”.