The Council of Europe's Expert Group on Action Against Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) has published is baseline evaluation report on North Macedonia's implementation of provisions of the Istanbul Convention, including steps taken to comply with the treaty and areas where progress is still needed. Positive developments include recent amendments to the criminal code defining sexual violence and rape based on the absence of consent, and criminalized stalking, sexual harassment, and female genital mutilation. Shortcomings include widespread,ongoing traditional beliefs that domestic violence is a private matter, stigma against victims of sexual violence, and claims of sexual violence not taken seriously by law enforcement and judicial authorities.
Compiiled from: "GREVIO publishes its baseline evaluation report on North Macedonia", Council of Europe Newsroom, September 7, 2023