Source: United Nations – Geneva
The Human Rights Committee today concluded its consideration of the fourth periodic report of North Macedonia on how it implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with Committee Experts commending the State’s efforts to address discrimination, and raising issues concerning reports of border officials’ excessive use of force against asylum seekers and attacks on journalists.
A Committee Expert acknowledged the positive efforts made by the State towards strengthening the rule of law and addressing discrimination, pursued in the context of North Macedonia’s candidacy for membership of the European Union.
One Committee Expert cited reports of excessive use of force carried out by border officials against asylum seekers. How did the State party ensure that such reports were investigated in a timely and effective manner?
Another Committee Expert said there had been an increase in attacks on journalists in recent years; how was the State working to prevent such attacks? What training was provided to public officials on the right to freedom of expression?
Nikola Prokopenko, State Counsellor for Criminal Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of North Macedonia and head of the delegation, said North Macedonia had been committed to implementing the Committee’s recommendations, which had been integral to strategic priorities in reforming the legal system, strengthening the rule of law, and advancing democracy in alignment with European standards.
On measures to prevent discrimination, the delegation said the State was harmonising the law on the prevention of discrimination with relevant European Union directives. The national commission monitoring discrimination had been strengthened; it had helped to develop national policies on preventing discrimination and to raise civil servants’ awareness of the issue.
There were internal mechanisms within the police service that investigated complaints of excessive use of force and torture by police officers, the delegation said. When evidence was found, criminal proceedings were instituted against the accused officer, who was also sanctioned. There had been no reports of excessive use of force against migrants and asylum seekers between 2022 and 2024.
The delegation also said recent amendments to the Criminal Code allowed for the ex-officio prosecution of attacks on journalists. The State had worked to raise the visibility of crimes against journalists and increase punishments for such crimes. There were four crimes committed against journalists in 2024; all these cases had been prosecuted.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Prokopenko expressed appreciation for the constructive dialogue, saying that the Committee’s recommendations would serve as valuable guidance for strengthening laws and policies. The State would leave the dialogue motivated to build a more just and equitable human rights-based society.
Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, in concluding remarks, commended North Macedonia on its ratification of international treaties, legal norms on gender-based violence, and policies on gender equality. However, he said concerns remained related to issues such as hate speech, prison conditions, and the limited protection framework for asylum seekers. Mr. Soh closed by expressing sincere gratitude to all those who had contributed to the dialogue.
The delegation of North Macedonia was made up of representatives of the Ministry for Inter-Community Relations; the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services; the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Education and Science; and the Permanent Mission of North Macedonia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-fourth session is being held from 23 June to 17 July 2025. All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m., Tuesday 1 July to begin its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Latvia (CCPR/C/LVA/4).
Report
The Committee has before it the fourth periodic report of North Macedonia (CCPR/C/MKD/4).
Presentation of the Report
NIKOLA PROKOPENKO, State Counsellor for Criminal Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of North Macedonia and head of the delegation, said North Macedonia had been committed to implementing the Committee’s recommendations over the reporting period. These recommendations had been integral to strategic priorities in reforming the legal system, strengthening the rule of law, and advancing democracy in alignment with European standards.
In 2022, the State signed the Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime; in 2023, it ratified the European Convention on Human Rights; in November 2024, it ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents; in December 2024, it ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products; and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure was in its final parliamentary reading. In October 2024, North Macedonia was elected a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.
During the reporting period, North Macedonia completed implementation of the justice sector reform strategy 2017–2022, which laid the foundation for a more transparent, efficient, and accountable justice system; and adopted a development strategy for the justice sector 2024–2028, aimed at further advancing the rule of law and access to justice.
According to the strategy for Roma inclusion 2022–2030, dedicated funds had been allocated from the national budget to support the implementation of targeted projects in areas of employment, housing, social inclusion, healthcare, and persons lacking personal documentation. In parallel, the implementation of the strategy for combatting human trafficking and illegal migration (2021–2025) was in the evaluation process. The State was developing the national action plan for the rights of the child (2025–2029), and the strategy and national action plan for the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (2026–2033).
Over the past period, notable progress had been made in the legislative sphere, including through the harmonisation of the Criminal Code with the provisions of the Istanbul Convention; and the adoption of the law on audio and audiovisual media services, the new law on the media, and the law on the execution of sanctions, aimed at enhancing legal clarity and institutional effectiveness. The State was also actively engaged in drafting amendments to the law on the Judicial Council, the law on the courts, the law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the law on the Council of Public Prosecutors. These reforms were an integral part of the development sectoral strategy for the judiciary, aiming to further strengthen judicial independence, transparency, and accountability.
The Government had partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund to identify the most vulnerable groups of children and conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing services and programmes aimed at addressing child poverty and social exclusion. It had enacted the law on justice for children and adopted a declaration on the prevention of and fight against violent extremism, which was jointly signed by religious communities and civil society organizations in the country.
The consistent and effective implementation of reforms in the field of education remained a national priority. Several reform-oriented laws on education had been adopted, aimed at enhancing accessibility, inclusiveness, and quality of education across all levels.
The State party was actively implementing the second national action plan to support the women, peace and security agenda. It had also focused efforts on strengthening institutional capacities for support to and protection of victims of gender-based violence, while intensifying activities aimed at the prevention of discrimination and violence against women and domestic violence.
North Macedonia remained fully committed to the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. In December 2024, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a final resolution confirming the closure of two cases against the country, thus acknowledging its efforts in implementing the Court’s decisions.
The fight against corruption and organised crime remained a high national priority. The State was steadfastly implementing the national strategy for the prevention of corruption and conflict of interests, which set a comprehensive framework for transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity. The Interdepartmental Body for Coordination of Anti-Corruption Activities played a vital role in fostering inter-institutional cooperation and ensuring the effective implementation of anti-corruption measures across all sectors.
The State party was currently drafting a new law on internal affairs, which introduced mandatory professional integrity checks for all personnel at the Ministry of the Interior. In addition, it had adopted the plan for the prevention of corruption in the penitentiary system (2022–2026), as well as a sector-specific integrity policy.
Towards the continuous development of staff in the penitentiary sector, the State had established a functional training and education centre, currently staffed with 31 certified trainers, which played a pivotal role in building institutional capacity, improving service delivery, and aligning penitentiary practices with European and international standards.
In support of freedom of expression, the State had taken concrete steps to strengthen criminal law protection for journalists, thereby reinforcing a safe and enabling environment for independent journalism.
The State party was prioritising both the enhancement of the legal framework and the strengthening of institutional capacities to prevent and protect against acts of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. It had established the Commission for Monetary Compensation to Victims of Violent Crime, in accordance with the law on payment of monetary compensation to victims of violent crimes, which was adopted in 2022. This mechanism envisaged a crucial form of redress and recognised the State’s responsibility to support victims on their path to recovery.
In the period ahead, North Macedonia would intensify reform efforts and take more decisive, accelerated steps to ensure timely and effective implementation of the planned reform agenda. Fully-fledged membership of the European Union would serve as a powerful catalyst for the effective realisation, advancement, and sustained protection of human rights in the country. The State’s reform agenda for 2024 to 2027 promoted reforms that were integral to completing the European Union integration journey.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the dialogue was taking place in the context of North Macedonia’s candidacy for membership of the European Union and membership of the Human Rights Council. The Committee acknowledged the positive efforts made by the State towards strengthening the rule of law and addressing discrimination.
North Macedonia had not provided information on the application of the Covenant in its report. Was the Covenant used by national courts? How did the State party ensure dissemination of the Committee’s general comments? During the COVID-19 pandemic, the State party had adopted measures that derogated from the Covenant without reporting them. Why was this? The Committee had registered less than five individual communications from North Macedonia. What was being done to ensure that individuals were aware of the Committee’s communications procedure?
The national human rights institution had “B” status under the Paris Principles and lacked resources. The role of the national human rights institution as the national preventive mechanism had not been formalised. Would the State party adopt a law to ensure that the Ombudsperson had sufficient resources and independence, and that its reports were followed up on by the authorities?
The reform of the Criminal Code in 2023 reportedly made it more difficult to prosecute cases of corruption. What results had been obtained in prosecuting cases of corruption and money laundering? Had proceedings involving the former Prime Minister concluded? What was the mandate of the State’s Anti-corruption Commission and how was it funded?
Another Committee Expert said North Macedonia had made many attempts to address discrimination, including the 2020 law on the prevention of discrimination and the establishment of the Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination. However, this Commission reportedly operated with only a fifth of the resources it needed. What challenges did the State party face in ensuring the effective implementation of the legal framework on discrimination? How effective were remedies available to victims of discrimination? How was the State party addressing barriers that prevented the reporting of discrimination?
The national action plan on the Roma for 2014 to 2022 reportedly had achieved limited progress, indicating structural issues. What measures were in place to combat de facto segregation of the Roma in housing and education? How was the State party empowering Roma women? What steps had been taken to facilitate access to birth registration for all Roma persons?
One Committee Expert asked about the results of the strategy for equality and non-discrimination for 2022 to 2026. The State party needed to recognise discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for hate speech and hate crimes within the Criminal Code. Would this be done? Some 32 cases of hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex peoples had been brought to courts, but only two had reached convictions. Was the State party considering measures to increase the conviction rate?
Why did the State party impose long pre-trial detention periods of up to 180 days? Would it revise its practices and ensure that pre-trial detention was used only as a last resort? Could judicial sentences imposing pre-trial detention be appealed? Did detained persons have access to a lawyer from the moment of their arrest, and did the State party implement alternatives to pre-trial detention?
A Committee Expert said North Macedonia adopted a national gender equality strategy in 2017, but no progress had been made on the draft law on gender equality. Why was this? It was welcome that the State party had appointed its first woman President in 2024. North Macedonia had a comparatively high percentage of women members of parliament for the region, but had a low representation of ethnic minority women. How was the State party addressing this? Only three out of 18 ministers were women; only two out of 82 mayors were women; and women represented 36 per cent of managerial positions in the public sector. What were the obstacles to improving women’s representation in decision-making?
New gender-based violence and domestic violence legislation was commendable, but it did not recognise psychological violence and cyber violence. Would the State party amend the Criminal Code to address these forms of violence? Violence against female journalists and human rights defenders had increased recently. What measures had the State party taken to implement existing laws and protect these women from violence? Women involved in court procedures related to gender-based violence were often unaware of their right to free legal aid. Underaged mothers who were victims of violence were unable to access support shelters. Cases of gender-based violence had increased in recent years, but there was a low number of criminal convictions of perpetrators. How was the State party addressing these issues? Had sufficient funds been allocated to implementing the national action plan on preventing gender-based violence, including to collect data on the issue?
During the reporting period, North Macedonia had adopted a law permitting abortion from 12 to 17 weeks of pregnancy and regulations on abortion procedures. However, abortion medications had not been registered and procedures were not available in rural areas. Would the State party address these issues?
A Committee Expert noted the establishment of accountability measures within the Ombudsperson’s Office to investigate complaints against police officers on acts of torture and ill-treatment. Most investigations of complaints had not led to prosecutions; however, there were continued reports of police using violence to obtain forced confessions, and of excessive use of force carried out by border officials against asylum seekers. How did the State party ensure that complaints of excessive use of force by the police were investigated in a timely and effective manner?
The Roma community reportedly continued to face violence and threats from police officers, and not enough was being done to investigate such cases in an impartial manner. How would the State party ensure the effective investigation of such cases and the punishment of perpetrators? How would the State party promote the effectiveness of investigative mechanisms, including the national preventive mechanism?
There were reports of a lack of implementation of prison reform. The prison system was reportedly severely overcrowded and understaffed. Some prisons struggled to provide sufficient access to clean water and food, including for juvenile detainees. What measures would the State party take to address prison overcrowding, provide adequate health and sanitation services in all prisons, and ensure that prison staff were trained on international standards on the treatment of prisoners?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that according to the Constitution of North Macedonia, ratified international treaties were part of the domestic legal order. The State party had undertaken activities to raise awareness of the Committee’s individual communications procedure, and would work to raise the awareness of members of the judiciary about the Committee’s jurisprudence.
In 2016, the State party adopted legislative amendments to strengthen the Ombudsperson, and a committee was now developing further measures to expand its mandate to monitor the rights of persons with disabilities and trafficking in persons. National authorities had implemented 74 per cent of the Ombudsperson’s recommendations. The State was considering measures to strengthen the degree of implementation of the recommendations.
The State had increased the budget of the National Commission against Corruption by 47 per cent in recent years, and had developed an electronic platform for reporting cases of money laundering and organised crime, which included indicators for monitoring the anti-corruption policy. It was also drafting amendments to the law on the prevention of corruption and conflicts of interest, which would make sanctions for misdemeanours stricter. A law on the protection of whistleblowers was adopted in 2022, which had led to three related cases being brought to the courts. The National Commission against Corruption produced annual reports, proposing initiatives for holding officials responsible and for institutions to respond to cases of corruption. In 2025, 65 corruption cases were opened, most relating to violations of the Electoral Code involving non-reporting of conflicts of interest by political candidates.
The State party had incriminated psychological violence in article 144 of the Criminal Code, recognising such violence as an aggravating circumstance.
The civil oversight mechanism for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment granted individuals the right to protection against ill-treatment. Twenty-five complaints of ill-treatment by police were filed in 2024. There had been three complaints related to torture over the reporting period. The Ombudsperson had established that there were no violations of rights in most of the cases. Eight cases related to excessive use of force by the police were still under examination.
Legal remedies were available to victims of discrimination, including civil lawsuits. The State party sought to build the capacities of relevant entities within the judiciary to respond to cases of discrimination. Discrimination was a subject in curricula at the judicial academy.
North Macedonia had undertaken many activities to fight corruption within the prison system as part of the plan for the fight against corruption 2022-2025. Amendments to the law on the execution of sanctions had been drafted, under which all prison staff would be obliged to make asset declarations. In the second half of 2024, the State party increased the number of prison inspections. Around 100 disciplinary actions had been imposed against prison staff in 2024, and proceedings had been initiated against two former prison wardens who were accused of abusing their authority.
The State party had advanced the legislative framework to address prison overcrowding, while also developing prison infrastructure. New laws concerning the Probation Service were being developed, which would increase the Service’s staff. There had been more than 700 probation cases in 2024 and thus far had been more than 500 in 2025. The State was promoting the use of probation instruments by the courts and had procured electronic bracelets for house arrests. There were plans to increase funding for the reconstruction of the prison system.
The Ombudsperson registered complaints of torture and violence in prisons, and there were plans to establish a registry of injuries among inmates. The State party had increased the number of disciplinary proceedings against prison staff and had organised visits to prisons by non-governmental organizations.
In 2022, the State drafted the second cycle of the strategy for the Roma. A coordinating unit for the strategy had been set up, and the budget for its implementation had been increased. The strategy’s main focuses were healthcare, education, housing, employment and civil registration. Most projects adopted under the former strategy had been completed. The number of Roma who applied for social housing had increased, as had the number of Roma employees in the public administration. All Roma children born in the State had the right to birth registration, including children born to undocumented parents.
The State party had developed measures to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, including measures to prevent the segregation of Roma students in primary schools. The State party had increased the number of Roma education mediators, who were working on keeping Roma individuals in the education system and preventing discrimination. Some 97 per cent of Roma students now progressed from primary to secondary school.
North Macedonia had appointed gynaecologists in the municipality with the largest number of Roma. There were health care mediators who supported Roma persons’ access to health care procedures. Ante- and neo-natal screenings for the Roma were funded by the State. Door-to-door vaccination campaigns were conducted in Roma settlements.
The State party had adopted clinical guidelines for medically induced abortions and procured medications for abortions, but these had yet to be approved for use. The State had, in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, trained doctors in one hospital to perform the procedure.
Analysis was being conducted on the level of harmonisation of the law on the prevention of discrimination with relevant European Union directives, with a view to revising this law. The national commission monitoring discrimination had been strengthened; it had helped to develop national policies on preventing discrimination and to raise civil servants’ awareness of the issue. A research centre for the design of gender responsive budgets and policies was being set up and a report on the implementation of the national strategy for gender equality was being prepared. Shelters for victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence had been set up across the country.
There were internal mechanisms within the police service that investigated complaints of excessive use of force and torture and ill-treatment by police officers. When evidence was found, criminal proceedings were instituted against the accused officer, who was also sanctioned. A specialised department of the Public Prosecutor was mandated to prosecute police officers who had used excessive force. There had been no reports of excessive use of force against migrants and asylum seekers between 2022 and 2024.
The Criminal Code included provisions on cyber bullying, stalking, abuse of personal data, and sexual harassment. The State party had adopted amendments to the Criminal Code that included journalists within the group of professions performing in the public interest and increased penalties for crimes against journalists. Defamation was decriminalised in 2017 and changed to an administrative offence.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the strategy to bring the Ombudsperson to “A” status under the Paris Principles; progress in investigations into corruption cases involving high-ranking officials; the results of measures implemented by the commission to combat corruption and the national strategy to combat corruption; whether the national strategy against gender-based violence included measures for the collection of data on domestic violence; measures to address the anti-gender movement in the State; the share of the Roma in the national population and in public bodies; and investigations into cases of ill-treatment against the Roma community.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party was planning measures to strengthen the implementation of the Ombudsperson’s recommendations, including a deadline for reporting on implementation. It would take into consideration the Ombudsperson’s financial independence and the status of its employees in upcoming legal reforms.
From 2017 to 2024, 412 cases of corruption were opened, including 62 cases involving high-profile officials, including the former Prime Minister, and former mayors and prosecutors. Some 110 indictments had been instituted related to abuse of official power, bribery and corruption. Offenders had been sentenced to up to 15-year prison sentences, and assets had been confiscated, including more than 800,000 euros in one case.
The State party had achieved great progress in prosecuting hate crimes. The Criminal Code had been amended to expand the types of hate crimes and grounds for discrimination addressed, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Training had been provided for the judiciary on the amended legislation.
Hate speech was currently defined in eight different criminal laws. The State party was preparing a revision to its Criminal Code that would establish a stand-alone offence of hate speech.
In 2025, one case of an attack against a woman human rights defender had been brought before the courts. There were a few cases of such attacks brought before the courts each year in the past three years.
Pre-trial detention could be renewed for longer periods depending on the severity of the crime. For most crimes, it could be renewed up to 90 days, but it could be renewed for up to two years for crimes punishable with life imprisonment.
The State party was working to harmonise all national laws with the law on the prevention of discrimination and to raise public awareness of discrimination. The Commission for the Protection of Discrimination lacked human resources, but had achieved great results, organising public awareness campaigns on international instruments related to discrimination. Many citizens filed complaints with the Commission. The draft law on gender equality was being analysed in cooperation with non-governmental organizations.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy collected data from social work centres on domestic violence. There had been 319 newly registered victims of domestic violence in the first quarter of 2025. In 2024, there was a 14 per cent increase in reported cases of domestic violence. Awareness raising campaigns on the prevention of domestic violence had been carried out, which included information on the mechanism for reporting such violence.
Gender-based attacks against women were widespread. Policies in North Macedonia were implemented with an obligatory gender analysis. The State party was championing institutional support for women and their promotion to management positions. Anti-gender equality movements had appeared in North Macedonia in 2023. The State party had raised public awareness about gender equality in response. Some 39 per cent of members of Parliament were women. Under the new strategy for the prevention of gender-based violence and domestic violence, there were provisions on countering digital violence.
The police did not keep data on the ethnic affiliations of persons filing reports on excessive use of force by law enforcement. Laws were equally applied when processing all reports.
Refugees and asylum seekers were housed in open accommodation centres, but were free to leave those centres. Refugees often transited through the country. No asylum seekers’ applications had been rejected without reasonable grounds. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees controlled the process of assessing asylum applications. Asylum seekers who wished to report excessive use of force by the police or challenge decisions on asylum could lodge complaints with the appeals court or the European Court of Human Rights.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, presidential decrees were issued to enforce a state of emergency. These decrees did not suspend constitutional rights, beyond enforcing a strict regime regarding movement. A Constitutional Court ruling that invoked the Covenant had reversed a decision, which had banned certain persons’ from exiting the country.
Alternative measures to detention, such as house arrest and bail, were applied by the State, and judges were provided with training on these measures. Remand imprisonment was often stopped on appeal; in 2023, 3.6 per cent of cases were ceased after a court appeal.
The State party was working to improve legal provisions governing excessive use of force, torture and abuse of office. New amendments removed the statute of limitations on cases of torture and excessive use of force by the police. The public prosecutor’s office had investigated 424 cases of excessive use of force by law enforcement officers.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said North Macedonia had made huge efforts in combatting trafficking in persons, with a national action plan for 2021 to 2025 and a specific plan addressing child trafficking. Severe penalties had been introduced for the exploitation of children, and measures ensuring the non-punishment of victims and the provision of compensation and shelter had been introduced. There was a rise in the number of victims of trafficking identified in 2021 and reports of ongoing complicity by the police regarding trafficking. How was this complicity being addressed? How did the State party ensure victims had access to support and compensation in line with international standards? How was it addressing the root causes of trafficking, including poverty, lack of education and social marginalisation? How would the State party enhance identification of adult victims of trafficking?
The legal framework on political representation had been updated, which had led to increased representation of minority groups in Parliament. However, there were no representatives of the Roma community. The Ombudsperson had also reported an increased representation of minorities in the public sector from 2007 to 2020. There was a lack of funds and staff for the agencies working for the rights of minorities. How would this be addressed? How was the State party collecting data on the needs of minorities, and promoting their cultural identities and participation in cultural life? What measures were in place to promote the Macedonian cultural identity?
One Committee Expert welcomed that the Constitutional Court passed a decision in 2012 repealing articles of the law on travel documents, granting every citizen the right to freedom of movement. However, several complaints had been filed at the European Court of Human Rights regarding legal limitations on the rights of freedom of movement of the Roma. In 2023, the Court found that Romani citizens’ freedom of movement had been violated, ordering the State to provide remedies. What measures were in place to ensure that the right of freedom of movement of the Roma was protected, and that all persons who restricted that right in border areas were held to account? How had the decision of the European Court of Human Rights been implemented?
Asylum seekers faced prolonged waits for biometric identification, which restricted their access to basic services. Reports of detention of asylum seekers were also concerning. Two temporary transit centres in North Macedonia reportedly operated without State regulation. How would the State party expedite the issuance of biometric identification to asylum seekers and refugees to facilitate their freedom of movement and access to services? How would it ensure that detention of asylum seekers was implemented only as a last resort and prevent the detention of women and children asylum seekers? There were reports of pushbacks of asylum seekers, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement. Had these incidents been investigated?
The Committee welcomed several positive measures by the State party to address statelessness, including ratification of the 1963 Statelessness Convention and efforts to provide stateless persons with documentation. However, there was no official statelessness determination procedure, and some regions had insufficient birth registration systems. How would the State party strengthen measures to register undocumented persons and ensure that all Roma persons were registered? Would it establish an effective and fair statelessness determination procedure?
One Committee Expert asked about the status of the bill amending witness protection measures. There were significant delays in court cases on corruption and allegations of a lack of transparency in the appointment of judges on the Judicial Council. Could the delegation comment on these issues? Had implementation of the strategy to strengthen the justice system improved access to justice for marginalised persons? There was a significant backlog of administrative dispute cases; how was this being addressed?
A bill on religious groups had been developed which sought to harmonise religious laws with provisions of the Criminal Code and punish antisemitism and the glorification of fascism. What was the status of this bill? Had measures been adopted to identify cases of hate speech against religious groups online and punish perpetrators?
How many journalists had been punished under the law on slander? There had been an increase in attacks on journalists in recent years; how was the State working to prevent such attacks? What training was provided to public officials on the right to freedom of expression? What activities were undertaken by the prosecutor’s office to monitor threats against journalists?
A Committee Expert asked about legal guarantees offered to persons who were subject to illegal surveillance. How did judges intervene in such cases? Was there an exclusion regime in courts for evidence which had been obtained illegally? What progress had been made in reforming police guidelines related to the collection and treatment of detainees’ data? What measures were implemented through the State’s digital transformation strategy?
Another Committee Expert said that in 2024, North Macedonia adopted a law on justice for children that incorporated the best interests of the child. This was a positive step. However, only 22 per cent of families with children in North Macedonia were receiving family cash benefits, and more than 7,000 children with disabilities did not receive disability benefits. What plans were in place to improve social support for children with disabilities and their families?
What measures were in place to abolish child and forced marriages? Violence against children remained a problem in the State. Almost three-quarters of all children were exposed to violent discipline at home, with higher rates for children with disabilities. Roma children made up 75 per cent of children in correctional facilities, where they were subjected to solitary confinement. What could be done to protect all children in the country?
It was welcome that measures were taken to improve the accessibility of the voting process for persons with disabilities. How did the State party support the candidacy of persons with disabilities in elections? What had been done to support undocumented persons and detained persons to exercise their voting rights? The Constitutional Court had struck down amendments to the electoral code in 2025. How would the State party ensure that future legal amendments to electoral laws did not infringe on voting rights?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the national action plan on trafficking in persons included measures to increase the police’s capacity to address trafficking cases. The State party applied the principle of non-refoulement for victims of trafficking; it did not forcibly return them to their places of origin. It was setting up a working group to develop the next iteration of the national action plan on trafficking for 2026 to 2030. A law on compensation for victims of trafficking was adopted in 2022. North Macedonia was part of a working group on combatting trafficking in the Western Balkans. The State conducted awareness raising campaigns on identifying trafficking victims. A roadmap for treating victims of trafficking had also been developed, as had guidelines for their legal representation and reintegration.
The national strategy on cohesion and multiculturalism included policies promoting culture, education and media representation. The Ministry for Inter-Community Relations had allocated funds for marking national days for different communities’ celebrations. The State provided funds to 33 non-governmental organizations to implement activities promoting multiculturalism, ethnic coexistence and minority languages.
Instruction in primary schools was provided in Macedonian and communities’ local languages, including Albanian, Bosnian and Serbian. Some 64,000 pupils received instruction in their mother tongues. All students could learn the minority language of their community, which was taught as an optional subject. Teaching programmes for Macedonian as a second language had been implemented. The State provided grants to primary and secondary schools to facilitate programmes promoting ethnic harmony. Criteria for developing textbooks written in minority languages had been lowered to facilitate their development.
Amendments had been made to the Criminal Code to prevent impunity for trafficking crimes. The criminal procedural law included provisions on the protection of witnesses, which applied to all vulnerable witnesses. The State party was working to amend this law in line with relevant European Union directives. The law on witness protection, which was adopted in 2005, was in line with international standards.
The State party had implemented reforms to the law on surveillance of communications and had established the operative technical agency. These efforts aimed to ensure that regulation of surveillance was in line with international standards. In 2023, five officers were charged for the destruction of surveillance equipment and were issued prison sentences.
Amendments to the Criminal Code in 2022 had resulted in the statute of limitations expiring for certain cases related to organised crime and corruption, leading to reduced sentences. The State party was working to address this shortcoming in its ongoing revision of the Criminal Code. The average time for the conclusion of administrative cases was 188 days.
North Macedonia had developed a law prohibiting antisemitism and the glorification of genocide and fascist crimes. It had also amended the law on the Judicial Council that required the Council to provide explanations for the election of all judges; it would be adopted soon. The law envisaged the inclusion of non-governmental organizations in the process of electing judges.
As part of judicial reform efforts, the State had taken steps to address shortcomings in the judiciary that led to cases being passed back and forth between courts, and had set up an electronic case register. It was also reforming its legal aid system and had provided increased training to legal aid practitioners.
Recent amendments to the Criminal Code allowed for the ex-officio prosecution of attacks on journalists. The State had worked to raise the visibility of crimes against journalists and increase punishments for such crimes. There were four crimes committed against journalists in 2024; all these cases had been prosecuted. In 2024, there were 15 lawsuits filed against journalists for defamation. Measures had been implemented to reduce the amount of compensation ordered in these cases, and alternatives to compensation, such as public apologies, were promoted.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy would soon adopt a national action plan on children’s rights, which would address issues such as child poverty and protection from violence. There was also a strategy for deinstitutionalisation which ensured that no children were placed in institutions; more than 600 children had been placed in foster families. The State sought to increase healthcare coverage for preschool children. To combat poverty, the State provided guaranteed minimal child benefits and benefits for children with disabilities and the families that cared for such children. Measures were in place to support access to the labour market for disadvantaged persons. Inspections were carried out to identify cases of child abuse and neglect. Amendments to the law on the family were planned to prohibit child marriage.
The State party was implementing measures to support the participation of persons with disabilities in elections. North Macedonia had adopted a national strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities and a related action plan. Some 75 experts had been trained to recognise difficulties in child development. The State party was expanding the network of social protection services for persons with disabilities, including family-based care services.
In 2018, the State incriminated violence against children, including cyberviolence, which was punished with up to three years imprisonment. Trafficking of children was considered an aggravating circumstance. The State party would work to raise public awareness to prevent child marriages.
Under the national strategy on the Roma, data was collected on areas such as housing and employment. Around 1.9 per cent of the Roma community was part of the public administration. All births could be registered, regardless of whether the parents were documented or not. North Macedonia sought to eradicate statelessness. There were 100 unresolved cases of unregistered persons, but their cases would be resolved through the law on foreigners. Asylum seekers waited only 15 days to receive identification documents; there were no cases of forced expulsion. Amended regulations prescribed time limits for keeping biometric materials.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on how biometric data was stored by the police; measures to prevent non-refoulement and to investigate alleged cases of pushbacks, including those involving Greece; efforts to legally recognise religious groups that were not recognised in the Constitution; efforts to implement European Court of Human Rights decisions related to the freedom of movement of Roma individuals; statistics on compensation paid to victims of abuse by law enforcement officials; quotas for representation of women and minority ethnic groups in elections in North Macedonia in 2025 and 2026; the voter turnout rate for the most recent election and mechanisms promoting voter participation; whether the State party had any pending ratifications of international human rights treaties; and whether it investigated reports by non-governmental organizations of pushbacks at the border.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were no recent reports of pushbacks of asylum seekers at the border. Greek authorities reacted to problems at the border with Greece. A period had been set for the storage of biometric materials and guidelines had been developed on storage methods.
The law on witness protection established a witness protection unit within the Ministry of Interior and the Council for Witness Protection. Witness protection measures included identity changes, which were implemented in cooperation with other countries.
The judgement of the European Court of Human Rights related to the freedom of movement of Roma persons had been executed. No legislative amendments had been adopted, as legislation allowed for freedom of movement of the Roma. A law on prevention from discrimination had been adopted, which placed the burden of proof on the alleged perpetrator. Around 113 civil lawsuits had been filed against the Ministry of Interior related to the freedom of movement; assessment of those cases had been completed.
The State party had not registered cases of discrimination of the Roma at border crossings. Persons with expired or damaged travel documents were not allowed to exit the country; this measure applied to all citizens. Parents were not allowed to take children out of the country if they did not have the permission of the other parent. Police officers who violated the rights of citizens were prosecuted. The State party investigated every report of pushbacks that it received, including reports from non-governmental organizations.
Asylum reception centres accommodated asylum seekers whose applications were being considered and unaccompanied minors, who were provided with special care and immediately appointed social workers as ex-officio guardians. The State worked to shorten the period of accommodation in such centres. Asylum seekers’ rights were ensured by the State. They were provided with food, healthcare, sanitation facilities, interpretation services, and free legal aid.
State law guaranteed religious freedom for all religious groups. The law envisaged civil oversight of the registration of religious groups. Reasons for not granting registration needed to be provided. The State party had mechanisms for processing hate speech against religious communities.
The State party was in the process of ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. It had harmonised legislation with international standards in 2019 to prohibit solitary confinement of children.
There had been no explicit application of the Covenant or the Committee’s jurisprudence over the reporting period. The State party would work to strengthen the capacity of the judiciary in this regard. The Constitutional Court regularly applied the European Convention on Human Rights.
Closing Statements
NIKOLA PROKOPENKO, State Counsellor for Criminal Legislation at the Ministry of Justice and head of the delegation, expressed appreciation for the constructive dialogue. The State party valued the Committee’s efforts in reviewing the application of the Covenant in North Macedonia. The State faced challenges related to corruption, independence of the judiciary and the protection of marginalised groups. These challenges tested the State party’s resolve to uphold the human rights of all. The Committee’s recommendations would be given due consideration and would serve as valuable guidance for strengthening laws and policies. The review was a step in the State’s ongoing journey toward strengthening human rights protections. North Macedonia was dedicated to cooperating with the human rights treaty bodies and to promoting justice and rights globally. The State would leave the dialogue motivated and encouraged to build a more just and equitable human rights-based society.
CHANGROK SOH, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for its thoughtful and thorough responses to the Committee’s questions. The dialogue addressed key aspects of implementation of the Covenant. The Committee commended the State’s ratification of international treaties, legal norms on gender-based violence, and policies on gender equality, among other measures. However, concerns remained related to issues such as hate speech, prison conditions, implementation gaps in protective legislation, and the limited protection framework for asylum seekers. Mr. Soh closed by expressing sincere gratitude to all those who had contributed to the dialogue.
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