OSCE advances responses to gender-based violence in North Macedonia and Albania by strenghthening skills of police officers

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department organized two specialized training courses for police officers in first-line supervisory roles. Held in April and May 2026 in Skopje, North Macedonia, and Tirana, Albania, respectively, the courses aimed to strengthen their capacity to respond to violence against women and girls.

The courses highlighted the crucial role of frontline leadership in police responses to violence against women and girls, emphasizing victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches. As a key link between first responders and senior leadership, first-line supervisors are instrumental in ensuring that policies and standards are translated into effective operational practice. By bringing together officers from both patrol services and investigative units, the courses also aimed to foster closer co-operation between operational and investigative functions.

The first course took place on 8 April 2026 in Skopje, gathering 31 police practitioners with managerial responsibilities, alongside senior officials from the Bureau for Public Security and the Police Academy. The training was organized in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia.

The second course was organized on 19 and 20 May 2026 in Tirana, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Ministry of Interior of Albania. The extended format allowed for more in-depth discussions and included an additional session dedicated to the use of risk assessment procedures. A total of 22 participants from across the country took part in the training, representing both municipal and state police levels.

Participants enhanced their understanding of the principles of gender-responsive policing and the importance of the systematic application of victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches in cases of gender-based violence. They further strengthened their knowledge of communication and trauma awareness, and explored how bias, negative stereotypes and language use can affect victims and compromise criminal investigations. Finally, participants discussed case studies on risk assessment procedures, focusing on strategies for effectively managing gender-based violence cases.

"The course will help me better guide initial approaches to victims of gender-based violence," shared one of the participants.

Organized under the OSCE extrabudgetary project Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-Based Violence in South-Eastern Europe, the courses form part of the OSCE’s efforts to support effective and democratic policing responses to gender-based violence, with a focus on victim protection. The two training courses were  supported by Italy, while the project is co-funded by Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway.