Domestic violence trends in North Macedonia

Official data and social reports indicate significant challenges regarding domestic violence in North Macedonia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 1,337 criminal cases of domestic violence through September 2026, noting that women comprise the majority of victims. Of these criminal cases, 770 involved physical injury and 527 involved endangering security. While women accounted for 1,144 of the reported victims, a larger number of complaints, totaling 3,869, primarily involved psychological abuse, which accounted for 3,494 of those reports.

The Ombudsman, Faton Selami, has observed a rising trend in complaints over the last three years, with victims reporting institutional delays or failures by police and social work centers in issuing restraining orders.

Specific vulnerabilities have been identified among Roma women, who face a high risk of violence due to extreme economic dependence. Data from the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination shows that between 2022 and 2024, only eight out of 100 Roma women were employed. Sabina Asanova, president of the Roma Association ‘Rodop’, stated that discrimination in employment, healthcare, and education, combined with systemic poverty, prevents many women from leaving abusive environments or reporting violence.

In response to these issues, the Ministry of Education and Science and Sparkasse Bank Skopje have launched a national educational campaign to increase public awareness and promote the early recognition of abuse among children and adolescents. This initiative follows reports of domestic violence incidents in Skopje, Kriva Palanka, and Berovo, where police documented cases involving physical attacks, threats, and psychological maltreatment against spouses, a 12-year-old girl, and elderly individuals.