Forum

Sanctioning the family violence - a novelty in Macedonia
 

In this edition of the Civic World, we dedicate the column FORUM to the actual changes in the Macedonian criminal law, which sanction the family violence for the first time in our country. Their experiences, opinions, suggestions and attitudes concerning this problem present the Women Civic Initiative ANTIKO and the Women Association "Prestige". The Forum is also open for you on the web-site www.graganskisvet.org.mk and www.civicworld.org.mk where you should register with your name and surname and the name of your association, if member of any.


The Women Civic Initiative ANTIKO greets the adoption of the changes and amendments in the criminal law text that treat the family violence. This is an important step forward for the protection of women and children, who, in our society appear to be the most numerous victims of this kind of violence. The first to talk about and react to the problem of family violence were the women NGO. Of course, we would be even more satisfied if a special law for regulating the problem of family violence was adopted, with an inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach and cooperation, as well as by adopting changes and amendments of the "regulations for protection" within the Law for families, which would mean a new beginning in the long-term process for solving this problem - the family violence that threatens the life and dignity of a number of victims (mostly women and children). However, what we would like to see being implemented is regulating the procedure for temporarily removing the violator from the family, and not the victim. We hope that the foreseen solutions in the laws will be consistently implemented, which would mean a new quality in treating and solving this important problem" - Gjuner Nebiu.

 

"Starting from the UN Declarations, the women association "Prestige" - Bitola, participated in the survey of citizens with questionnaires in the field of family violence in 1996. They asked both women and men, and the result was that men were more open for cooperation, whereas women were suspicious, shy and categorical in their answers that they have never been beaten. These answers aroused interest at the women association "Prestige" activists on the factual condition regarding this problem. Since then, it has become obvious that one in every five women was facing and successfully hiding this problem. Adopting the proposal-changes in the criminal law regarding the family violence, which has been recently passed by the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia is a significant moment for the victims, whose violators are yet unknown or remain unpunished. The civic sector in the country with its engagement disturbed the keeping quiet of many women who have been victims of family violence, as well as the keeping quiet of the society about this alarming problem that encouraged all of us to protect them and tell them that they are not alone and they are not guilty for the fear they suffered. Today, in more than 85 countries in the world, including our office, there are solidarity networks for relating and SOS phones. We strongly believe that the violators will think twice before doing any kind of violence in future, since they will be aware of the fact that their deeds will not remain unpunished, and the victim will be legally protected" - Masa Dimik.