Scoping Study on Violence Against Women in Skopje: The Case Studies of Centar and Cair

Donor: UN WOMEN
Duration: January 2012 – September 2012

Gender based violence is rarely discussed in Macedonia, particularly among policy and decision makers. In this context, violence against women in public spaces is a topic that has received almost no attention in discussions about gender-based violence in the country. While pressure from women’s rights groups and the international community have led to significant improvements in the legislative framework on domestic violence, violence and the threat of violence outside of the private sphere remain heavily under-researched and therefore largely unaddressed.

The study looks at the extent and different dimensions of violence against women in public spaces, focusing primarily on women’s perceptions of safety and the impact this has on their lives, as well as the forms of violence they experience and what strategies they have at their disposal to deal with the violence.