The National Network to End Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence demands an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the tragedy that occurred on March 2 in Skopje’s Taftalidze, where a thirty-one-year-old mother and her six-year-old daughter lost their lives after falling from a building.
“According to the testimonies of the closest family, the mother had been a victim of domestic violence for a long time, which had been reported to the competent institutions. If it is confirmed that the institutions had knowledge, but did not take appropriate protective measures, we demand that all officials be held accountable by name – from the Ministry of Interior, the centers for social work, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and all other competent institutions,” the Network said.
This tragedy is not an isolated case, according to the report. In 2026 alone, four lives have already been lost as a result of gender-based and domestic violence. According to Eurostat data for 2023, Macedonia is among the countries with the highest rate of femicide in Europe, which is an alarming indicator that the protection system is not functioning effectively.
“Laws exist, but their implementation is inconsistent and insufficient. As a result, victims remain without adequate support and protection, while perpetrators continue to endanger their lives with impunity,” reads the press release, and calls for a transparent investigation and suspension of officials involved in the action and for individual responsibility to be established for each official who failed to comply with legal obligations.
