North Macedonia: 1 in 10 children exposed to tech-facilitated sexual abuse

A new report titled ‘Disrupting Harm’ reveals that approximately 1 in 10 children aged 12 to 17 in North Macedonia—totaling around 12,000 children—were exposed to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse within a single year.

Data indicates that in 78 percent of cases, the perpetrator was someone known to the child, such as a friend or family member. More than half of the incidents involved social media platforms, while roughly 30 percent occurred on online gaming platforms. The report highlights severe psychological consequences, noting that affected children face an 11-fold increase in the likelihood of self-harm and a 12-fold increase in suicidal ideation compared to those not exposed to such abuse.

Lesley Miller, the UNICEF representative in North Macedonia, emphasized the urgent need for stronger prevention systems, improved services, and stricter laws to ensure safer online environments. The report also notes a critical gap in reporting, with only about 1 percent of cases being officially denounced.