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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CULTURE]

5 clusters · 13 sources · 49 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated 3 days ago

Youth violence and digital aggression in the Balkans

Overview

In North Macedonia, Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska reported that while peer violence in schools has remained stable at approximately 50 cases per year, there is a “concerning increase in the brutality of certain incidents.” To address this, the Ministry is implementing legislative changes to include well-being and anti-discrimination activities in school programs. New legal amendments are also being processed to introduce fines for parents or guardians of children involved in violence or those who refuse to cooperate with school services. Preventive efforts include developing a cyberbullying handbook with UNICEF and Telekom, a peer violence handbook with Makpetrol, and working with the SEGA Youth Organization Coalition to establish national standards for safe schools. Building on these efforts, Makedonski Telekom and the Ministry of Education and Science have launched a national campaign titled ‘Break the Circle of Violence. Do Not Be an Audience.’ This initiative specifically targets the role of bystanders—those who film, comment on, or share violent content—to prevent the unintentional amplification of aggression. The Ministry is also working to establish national standards for violence-free schools through teacher and student community training. In Skopje, the campaign hosted the first ‘Parental Meeting Without Grades’ to discuss creating environments free from mockery and hate. The event involved the ‘Net bez hejt’ (Net Without Hate) youth movement, a partnership between the Telekom Foundation for Macedonia and UNICEF. Upcoming mobile caravans will travel to various cities, providing parents with access to psychologists to encourage open communication with their children. Regional discussions in Albania and North Macedonia have highlighted the impact of digital aggression. In Albania, a UNICEF study indicated one in five young people has experienced online harassment.

Entities

UNICEF · Ministry of Education and Science · Vesna Janevska · Makedonski Telekom · Goran Marković

Timeline

3 days ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Makedonski Telekom hosts event to combat peer and online violence
Makedonski Telekom hosted a community event in Skopje to combat peer and online violence through parental education and youth-led digital safety initiatives.
about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
Makedonski Telekom launches national initiative against youth violence
Makedonski Telekom and the Ministry of Education and Science have launched a national initiative to prevent school violence and digital hate speech through education and new safety standards.
about 1 month ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
North Macedonia: 1 in 10 children exposed to tech-facilitated sexual abuse
A UNICEF report finds that 1 in 10 children in North Macedonia have faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation, often by known individuals, highlighting an urgent need for digital protection.
about 2 months ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Youth violence and digital aggression addressed in Albania and North Macedonia
Youth leaders and officials in Albania and North Macedonia are addressing the rise of digital violence and peer bullying, emphasizing the need for proactive prevention and better support for young people.
about 2 months ago

[POLITICS] 3 sources
North Macedonia education minister addresses rising brutality in school violence
North Macedonia's Education Minister reports stable peer violence volumes but rising brutality, prompting new school safety standards, cyberbullying handbooks, and proposed fines for parents.

Sources

alsat.mk · argjirolajm.net · biznisvesti.mk · denar.mk · expres.mk · makfax.com.mk · nezavisen.mk · portalb.mk · shenja.tv · skopjeinfo.mk · zhurnal.mk · zoom.mk · zurnal.mk

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history