Women MPs discuss changes in Criminal Code for successful implementation of the Istanbul Convention in North Macedonia
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Women Members of Parliament and representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of North Macedonia discussed over a training workshop the necessary harmonization of the Criminal Code with the standards of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention.
The workshop, organized by the Macedonian Women’s Lobby (MWL), in partnership with the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), was held within the framework of the EU-UN Women regional programme on ending violence against women ‘’Implementing Norms, Changing Minds’’.
During the event, the participants were introduced to a gap analysis of the Criminal Code in relation to the standards of the Istanbul Convention produced as part of the regional programme.
Women MPs agreed that urgent changes to the Criminal Code are needed, especially in regard to criminalizing all forms of violence in line with the Istanbul Convention.
"We will closely monitor the process of changing the Criminal Code, and we will stand for changes in line with the standards of the Istanbul Convention," said Snezhana Kaleska Vancheva, Member of Parliament.
‘’Working with women MPs on issues related to aligning the Criminal Code with the Istanbul Convention is very important. MPs have shown great interest and dedication, which is essential because changing the laws requires consensus. We are taking into consideration the various ideologies of different political parties and trying to find common solutions for potential reforms of the Criminal Code,” said Daniela Dimitrievska, Executive Director of the Macedonian Women’s Lobby.