North Macedonia is once again facing cases of domestic violence, where the victims were women and children, raising concerns about the effectiveness of institutions in protecting them. Just a few days ago, a tragic incident in Skopje left a mother and her daughter dead after systematic abuse.
In another earlier case, police arrested an abuser who had caused serious injuries to his wife and their minor children. Such incidents have brought back into public debate the need for stronger legal measures and protective mechanisms for victims.
“Silence from institutions has taken many human lives, first and foremost those of women. We are no longer talking only about women’s rights, but about ensuring their lives. We have submitted to Parliament a proposal for amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence, which includes the introduction of electronic ankle monitors for abusers. The device would trigger an alarm when the abuser is near the victim,” said Monika Zajkova.
The Minister of Interior, Panče Toshkovski, emphasized that victims often withdraw their statements after reporting violence and after the abuser is arrested, frequently due to pressure.
“Today we have two people under arrest. But often, after victims report the abuse and the perpetrator is arrested, they later withdraw their statement. This is the biggest problem, often due to pressure from the abuser. We cannot blame them, but we must find institutional solutions to address these incidents,” Toshkovski said.
The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly called on citizens not to hesitate to report domestic violence. Only this year, four victims of domestic violence have been recorded who died as a result, highlighting the need for more effective intervention and stronger institutional monitoring of the phenomenon.