Report on the Provided Free Legal Aid to Victims of Gender-Based and Domestic Violence

The report is part of the project “Prevention and Protection against Gender Based Violence in North Macedonia – Phase II” implemented by United Nation Population Fund UNFPA and supported by the British Embassy. It aims to enhance the efforts of state institutions and civil society organizations (CSOs) to effectively implement the Law on Prevention and Protection from Violence against Women (VAW) and
Domestic Violence (DV) at both national and local levels. By supporting comprehensive gender-based violence (GBV) services, the project will contribute for the prevention and protection measures to be accessible nationwide.

In July 2024, the Helsinki Committee initiated the project “Support to NGOs in Providing Legal Aid to Victims of GBV and Sustainable Services for Mobilizing Local Support,” sponsored by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). This collaboration aims to enhance the sustainability of civil society organizations, enabling them to deliver long-term services to survivors and victims of gender-based violence.

Contributions received by the Committee are directed toward the free legal aid service, ensuring that the
support provided yields a significant and lasting impact. Sustainable funding is essential not only for addressing immediate needs but also for establishing a robust legal aid system that effectively safeguards the rights and dignity of citizens.

Hence, this report outlines data on the legal and paralegal aid offered to victims of gender-based and domestic violence and examines the monitoring of court cases related to these issues during the period from July 2024 to March 2025. Additionally, it summarizes the conclusions drawn from forums with women across all regions of the country, excluding Skopje.