Skopje, 28 March 2024 - Adoption of a Protocol on cooperation among competent entities and handling of cases by competent institutions, adoption of bylaws, promotion of an integrated data collection model, and defining a violence perpetrators programme.
These are some of the key results of the project 'Prevention and Protection against Gender-Based Violence in North Macedonia', which UNFPA has been implementing for the past three years in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and with financial support from the British Embassy.
"UNFPA, our partners, and all of us are particularly proud today to have the opportunity to present the results we have achieved together with our partners and with you, as well as the opportunity to jointly outline the next steps towards the eradication of domestic and gender-based violence," said Afrodita Shalja, Head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Office in North Macedonia.
At the event held today in Skopje, about 100 representatives of national institutions, NGOs, the international community and the media, showcased the results of various activities that included the development of a Victim Reintegration Program and pioneered the first register of 33 trainers for training professionals for multisectoral cooperation, developing standards for professionals to work with perpetrators, as well as replicating the model of domestic violence victims shelter through cooperation with partners at the local level.
"May these collective achievements serve as inspiration for all future steps aimed at ensuring the safety of every victim," expressed Zaklina Gestakovska Aleksovska, Programme Analyst on Gender at the United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA office in North Macedonia.
In the past period, analysis and recommendations for enhancing the functionality of SOS lines for assisting victims of violence were also developed, along with an ongoing campaign to promote services for victims of violence.
Representatives of the Ministries of Labour and Social Policy, Interior and Health and civil society organizations discussed the future steps towards strengthening the system for prevention and protection against gender-based violence.
The event also marked the future steps in building the system, and the short documentary film "Breaking the Cycle", produced by the Institute for Communication Studies, was also promoted.
