The Situation with Hate Speech in North Macedonia in 2023

In 2023, a total of 1,171 reports of hate speech were registered on the platform www.govornaomraza.mk. The majority of reports were related to ethnic affiliation (646), sexual orientation and gender identity (248), national affiliation (275), political beliefs (149), and sex and gender (80).

Hate speech intensified particularly during high-visibility events such as Skopje Pride, sports matches, and public statements made by political actors. Despite the numerous reports, the institutional response remained weak the Public Prosecutor’s Office took almost no action ex officio.