Macedonia Women's Forum Tackles Domestic Violence on Family Day

On May 15, the International Family Day was marked by the Institute for Family Studies with workshops for students, stressing that a healthy family is the cornerstone of society and noting recent trends such as declining birth rates, higher divorce rates and communication challenges.

The same day, the Women’s Forum of Macedonia’s Socialist Party hosted a specialist panel on combating domestic and gender‑based violence. Speakers including forum chair Zorica Jankulovska, MP Emiliya Angelova, psychiatrist Slavica Arsova and representatives of NGOs highlighted the need to implement the National Strategy for Prevention and Protection from Gender‑Based Violence (2026‑2033), improve institutional coordination, and build public trust so victims are not silenced by fear, economic dependence or distrust of the system. The panel called for zero‑tolerance policies, integrated support for survivors and stronger mental‑health services, emphasizing that violence against women is both a human‑rights violation and a deep social challenge.