Skopje, 13 February 2025 (MIA) - Half of citizens (50.3 percent) are ready to use violence to protect their families, shows a survey of the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) regarding the people's perceptions on personal and national security.

A total of 40.4 percent of respondents would not resort to violence for the sake of protection. Although the percentage of those who are ready to report violence is represents a majority (59.6 percent), the arguments of the others who say they would not report violence is concerning. They say this is not their concern, they do not believe the authorities would solve the problem or fear the consequences. Readiness to report violence or breaking of the law is lowest (46.2 percent) among young respondents aged 18-29, with one in four saying this is not their concern, MCIC said in a press release.

Regarding the local context, citizens are mostly concerned by unsafe roads and speeding (31 percent), followed by crime (15.6 percent) and violence related to drug use (15.5 percent).

When it comes to personal security, half of the citizens (52.7 percent) feel safe in the environments in which they live and work. Ethnic Macedonians (59.4 percent) and members of other communities (53.8 percent) feel safer than ethnic Albanians (33.3 percent).

Asked who would best protect them and their families, 46.2 percent of respondents trust themselves as best protectors of their family, one-fifth say they do not believe anyone, while 19 percent consider the police as the best option to provide protection.

According to the survey, citizens feel most safe at home (91.2 percent). As the surrounding widens, the feeling of insecurity goes down, with 85.4 percent safe in their neighborhood, while 60.4 percent feel safe in the country.

The survey was conducted over the phone on a national representative sample of 1,000 respondents.

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