Project Update
North Macedonia Strengthens Responses to Violence Against Women and Girls with OSCE Support
- Issued on:
- Issued by:
- Transnational Threats Department
- Fields of work:
- Policing, Gender-based violence
On 22 and 23 September, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department organized a training course for criminal justice practitioners in Skopje, North Macedonia, on the specific challenges associated with the policing, investigation and prosecution of violence against women and girls (VAWG). The training was organized in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje, and in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors of North Macedonia.
The course brought together public prosecutors from several regions of the country and police officers with investigative and supervisory responsibilities. Participants explored ways to strengthen a common understanding of offences related to VAWG, including their specific dynamics and the inherent risks and implications for victims. The training combined expert input with practical exercises and role play, allowing participants to explore the application of relevant procedures and approaches in realistic case scenarios.
Particular emphasis was placed on communication and co-ordination in case management, including risk identification and assessment, collection and sharing of relevant information, and timely implementation, monitoring and review of protective measures, including emergency measures such as barring orders. Participants examined how risk assessment in VAWG cases should be approached as a dynamic and ongoing process, with relevant information communicated, assessed and reassessed as cases progress through the criminal justice system.
The course supported practitioners in further strengthening their capacity to prioritize victim safety, promote accountability and apply established procedures consistently. It reinforced the importance of timely, co-ordinated, trauma-informed and victim-centred responses throughout the criminal justice process.
Organized under the OSCE extrabudgetary project “Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-Based Violence in South-Eastern Europe”, the event forms part of the OSCE’s broader efforts to support effective and democratic policing, with a particular focus on the protection of victims.
The event was financially supported by Germany. The project is also funded by Austria, Finland, France, Italy and Norway.