The government of North Macedonia today committed to proposing amendments to a total of eight existing laws aimed at measures to address violence against women.
This was decided today by the working group under the auspices of the highest government officials, the Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Gjoko Velkovski, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Pance Toshkovski.
“In order to strengthen the systematic protection of women victims of violence and improve the legal framework, the first meeting of the Working Group for Monitoring, Analyzing and Providing Recommendations for Improving the National Legislation on Prevention and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, as well as for preparing a proposal for urgent changes in the legislation, was held today,” a statement from the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth said after the working group meeting. According to this ministry, the working group will work on amendments and supplements to several laws, including: the Law on Police Authorizations; the Law on Prevention and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; the Law on Social Protection; the Law on Justice for Children; the Law on Free Legal Aid; the Law on Criminal Procedure; Civil Procedure Law and Law on Payment of Financial Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes.
According to the press release, members of the working group are representatives from relevant institutions and civil society organizations, including: the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Justice, the non-governmental sector, the competent courts, the Public Prosecutor's Office, representatives from the academic community and the Parliament.
The creation of this group for amendments and additions to laws comes after numerous cases against women, including tragic cases against women or other cases of domestic violence.
