On December 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, we launched the campaign “16 days of activism against violence against women and girls” with a panel discussion on the topic “How does the state protect victims of sexual violence?”
Sexual violence in all its forms, as form of gender-based violence, is one of the least reported in our country. The victim protection and support system, although in place, very often fails to provide the necessary help to those who muster up the courage to report and discourages others from taking the first step. That is why sexual violence and the necessary improvements to the protection and support system for victims are the topic with which we started the “16 days of activism against violence against women” campaign.
The event consisted of 2 panel discussions that will discuss 2 important issues:
– Do the Referral Centers for victims of sexual violence provide protection and support for victims?
– Why are urgent amendments to the Criminal Code necessary?
Speakers at the first panel were Ina Dzugumanova, author of the thematic report “Efficiency in the functioning of referral centers for victims of sexual violence”, Snezhana Gjeorgieva Jankova, Head of the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology – UGAK Skopje, and Despina Stojanovska, Systemic and Family Psychotherapist.
In the second panel, speaker were Ana Avramoska Nushkova – legal advisor in the National Network against Violence against Women, Natasha Boshkova – lawyer, Natasha Saramandova – Public Prosecutor and Arta Biljali Zendeli – MP in the Parliament of R. North Macedonia.
The conclusion was that an urgent revision of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Referral Centers for victims of sexual violence and rape is needed, and an urgent adoption of amendments to the Criminal Code in accordance with the Istanbul Convention, in order to better protect victims of sexual violence and rape.
This activity was carried out within the project “On the way to the EU: Prevention of violence against women in the Republic of North Macedonia” financed by the “Kvinna till Kvinna” Foundation.
