against Women

Concluding observations on the combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Addendum

* The present document is being issued without formal editing.

Information provided by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in follow-up to the concluding observations *

[Date received: 1 December 2014]

No. 23 (a), (e) and 30 (c)

As regards the recommendation 23 (a) in order to improve the prevention and protection against domestic violence, on September 17, 2014, the Republic of Macedonia adopted the first systemic Law on Prevention, Combating and Protection against Domestic Violence.

The new systemic Law on Prevention, Combating and Protection against Domestic Violence was adopted with the aim to align the national legal framework with the European standards and good practices in this field, as well as with the relevant international documents and conventions. The Law is aimed at taking measures for prevention of domestic violence and protection of victims, respecting the fundamental human rights and freedoms, life, personal integrity, non‑discrimination and gender equality, with due account taken by all competent institutions, citizens and non-governmental organizations of the interests and needs of victims.

The new regulation aims to improve the system of protection against domestic violence, specifically by:

•Improving the prevention, combating and protection against domestic violence at the national and local level;

•Undertaking specific actions for improving the prevention, in order to identify and reduce the incidence of domestic violence;

•Establishing an efficient and effective system for protection, in order to reduce the consequences of perpetrated domestic violence and to prevent future violence;

•Strengthening the multi-sectoral action taken by all professional structures, via the inclusion of the civil society;

•Creating integral policies aimed at continuous monitoring and enhancement of the prevention, combating and protection against domestic violence.

As regards the recommendation 23 (e) the new Law on Prevention, Combating and Protection against Domestic Violence, will enhance the method of keeping records on domestic violence victims. The format and content of the Form for exchange of information between the competent institutions, as well as the monitoring of the situation involving domestic violence and the manner of data exchange, will be prescribed with the adoption of a by-law.

As regards the recommendation 30 (c) the Commission for carrying out an audit of the medical documentation in the special schools in the Republic of Macedonia was set up. The Commission is composed of the three competent ministries, namely, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Health, and an expert team of doctors. The purpose of this Commission is to conduct inspection of the documentation and to establish the factual situation of Roma children enrolled in schools for children with special needs. The Commission stated its work in October 2014. The audit shall cover all primary and secondary special schools in the Republic of Macedonia. Upon completion of the audit, recommendations for taking appropriate measures for addressing the problems identified by the audit will be made.