The AIRE Centre and the Academy of Judges and Public Prosecutors of North Macedonia, with support from the UK Government, hosted a workshop for over 50 judges and prosecutors, focusing on improving judicial responses to femicides. During the event, held as a part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the handbook for the judiciary “Guidelines on Addressing Femicide Cases” was presented, which provides guidelines for qualification of criminal offences, and recommendations on best practices in assessing aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
“Research conducted by the AIRE Centre and other organisations has shown that women who have tried to leave violent partners are often at the highest risk of femicide. Also, our research has shown that the most unsafe place for a woman is her home. That is why it is vital to ensure women feel protected, listened to, and supported. Workshops like this are critical for reviewing judicial practices, overcoming stereotypes, and building trust in the justice system”, said Sabina Đapo, Programme Manager at the AIRE Centre.
Đapo also noted that monitoring by the AIRE Centre and its local partners across the region has shown progress in risk assessments and early intervention measures, resulting in an increase in detentions following instances of domestic and gender-based violence.
“North Macedonia has a quality legislative framework and robust laws related to the prevention of and protection against violence against women and domestic violence, that prescribe and enhance protective measures. Yet, in practice, judges face certain challenges”, said Irina Trajkoska Strezoski, Director of the Academy of Judges and Public Prosecutors of North Macedonia.
Trajkoska Strezoski explained that preventing femicide, or, at least, reducing its incidence requires coordinated multisectoral cooperation among competent institutions and accurate risk assessment, which will advance the system for protection. She announced that the Academy will focus its future training programs on addressing these challenges.
“Femicide and general gender-based violence as systemic issues are a form of discrimination and violence directed against women. The issue of gender-based violence is a very serious problem which affects all member states of the Council of Europe. It is a problem which does not always surface in the public sphere and affects different family members, but women make up an overwhelming majority of victims”, said Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska, Judge of the Supreme Court and former Judge of the ECtHR.
Lazarova Trajkovska explained that national courts and legal professionals must also adopt a gender-sensitive approach in conducting legal proceedings and delivering judgments, and additionally, that they should strive to promote gender equality within the judiciary itself.
“Domestic and gender-based violence and femicide, are tragedies that deeply affect not only individuals and families but also society as a whole. Statistics clearly show that the number of femicides in the Western Balkans is alarming, and many of these women did not have the opportunity to receive adequate protection in time. Ending violence against women is one of the top priorities in the FCDOs International Women and Girls strategy. With our partners AIRE Centre we are working with judges, prosecutors, and legal experts in North Macedonia to discuss the ways in which judicial response concerning femicide can be improved”, said Andrew Brand, Head of Programmes at the British Embassy Skopje.
Irina Trajkoska Strezoski also expressed gratitude to the long-term partners of the Academy of Judges and Public Prosecutors of North Macedonia, including the AIRE Centre and judicial experts that gave lectures at the event.
„Over the past few years, Academy and the AIRE Centre have successfully realised a range of activities aimed at advancing the judicial system in our country, with educational events related to femicide being part of them. It is a great privilege to learn from experienced and distinguished professionals. The team of speakers selected for today’s event offers us that exact experience. I would like to thank Ms. Mirjana Lazarovska Trajkovska, a former judge of the ECHR and current judge of the Supreme Court, along with the judges Zoran Dimitrievski and Tatjana Dukovska of the Court of Appeal Skopje for their presence. I am confident that our successful collaboration will continue in the future”, said Trajkoska Strezoski.
The workshop also addressed challenges in qualifying femicide cases, sentencing policies, and the Istanbul Convention’s role, which were presented by Judges Zoran Dimitrievski and Tatjana Dukovska from the Appellate Court Skopje. Report “Femicide in the Republic of North Macedonia: The state of affairs, the legal framework and the judicial practice” was also presented, which offers an in-depth analysis of the country’s judicial response to femicides.
