The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia is taking part in the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, which takes place every year from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day). This campaign aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and promote efforts to end violence against women and girls.
The Delegation launched its participation in the campaign under the slogan “Change the Story – End the violence”, with a powerful video of an intimate testimony of a woman going through several emotional phases, reflecting her personal transformation while integrating the experiences of many other women. The movie starts with her initial state of trauma and silence, moments of vulnerability, but she eventually takes the decision to seek help, filled with uncertainty. We will see how she stabilizes, how a new chapter in her life opens as she becomes a voice for other women who have gone through similar hardships and ends with a new phase in her life – stability and a new beginning.
“The European Union stands with all women and girls who have faced violence and discrimination — and with all those working to end it. Gender-based violence is not only a brutal violation of fundamental rights. It is an assault on equality, justice, and the kind of future we are building together”, Head of the EU Delegation Ambassador Michalis Rokas said launching the campaign”. “Who can forget the women who rebuilt their lives — and now help others do the same? I won’t! Their courage inspires. Yours can too”.
The EU has through its programmes supported organisations engaged in supporting women that were victims of violence, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and who were economically deprived, putting their mere existence and the existence of their families under additional hardship.
Under the slogan “Change the Story – End the violence”, during the campaign seven real-life stories of women who have endured and have successfully overcome these challenges, violence and hardships, with help from Civil Society Organisations (CSO), supported by the EU, will be published.
The Delegation is proud that it cooperated with the North Macedonia Olympic Committee (MOK) which actively joined the campaign and some of the most prominent athletes have filmed their views on unacceptability of gender violence.
The staff of the EU Delegation joined the Head of the EU Delegation Ambassador Michalis Rokas and recorded strong messages, which will be aired during the campaign speaking resolutely against gender-based violence and the need for the whole society to get engaged and change its attitude towards these deplorable practices.
In cooperation with Open Gate La Strada, the Delegation is organising at the Europe Houses in Skopje, Bitola and Tetovo, on 2, 3 and 5 December, respectively, three workshops on prevention of violence and trafficking of women and girls. The workshops will encompass screening of the documentary film “The Way Out”, followed by a panel discussion with the attending youth. The workshops will explore the intersection between gender-based violence (GBV), human trafficking, and forced and child marriage, emphasizing how systemic inequality and harmful gender norms increase the vulnerability of women and girls to violence and exploitation.
Crisis Center Hope in cooperation with the EU Delegation is organising three events. On 25 November, a street action at the central square in Skopje took place, in which students from the International Private School (IPS) distributed materials to passers-by. The following day, a presentation was organized at IPS for students around the issue of preventing GBV and domestic violence. The third event will be held at Europe House Skopje on 5 December in the form of a panel discussion under the title “Youth as agents of change – prevention of violence through participation and education”.
