Skopje, 18 November 2025 (MIA) – Raising public awareness, encouraging children to speak up, and providing knowledge and tools for prevention and protection for adults is the goal of the national campaign "One in Five - Stop Sexual Violence against Children", whose implementation began Tuesday within the framework of the "EU Support for the Rule of Law" project, funded by the European Union.

According to the data from the Interior Ministry shared during the campaign launch between 2020 and 2024, a total of 508 cases of sexual violence and harassment against children were reported in the country. The campaign is being implemented by the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, together with the Ombudsman and the Bureau for Development of Education.

President of the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, Dushan Tomshikj, said that the statistics behind this title are painful and heavy, but they must not remain just numbers. He pointed out that behind every single child there is a child with a name, a surname, a family, hopes, and trust in adults. "It is our duty, as institutions and as a society," Tomshikj explained, "to do everything so that this trust is never betrayed."

“Sexual violence against children is one of the gravest human rights violations and leaves lifelong consequences. Prevention is not merely a recommendation, it is a responsibility. We must create safe environments, encourage adults to recognize warning signs, and most importantly, empower children to speak up, seek help, and understand that they are never at fault. This is why this campaign is so vital. As part of it, promotional videos, materials, and posters have been produced and will be distributed to all primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens, allowing educators and professionals to raise awareness among children and parents alike,” Tomshikj said.

He stressed that that they believe the campaign will make an important step toward a society where every child is safe, respected, and aware that institutions stand behind them.

“To date, the Commission has not received any reports of sexual harassment or sexual violence against children. This may be due to low societal awareness or fear of reporting, but the campaign was specifically designed to raise public understanding of sexual harassment and violence, help people recognize it, and ensure it is properly reported. The Commission intervenes when institutions fail to act. This means it must first await the outcome from the relevant authorities, and only if there is a violation of rights or insufficient protection does it step in,” Tomshikj noted.

Deputy Ombudsperson Sonja Trifunovska noted that protecting children is not just a legal requirement, it is a matter of human dignity, awareness, and responsibility for the future.

“We must act together and decisively. Children who experience violence often face a double trauma: from the abuse itself and from inadequate institutional responses. That’s why we need better protocols, child-friendly procedures, and coordination among all responsible services. Most importantly, we need to prevent abuse before it happens, educate children from a young age, support parents and teachers, and build a society where every adult understands their role in keeping children safe,” Trifunovska said.

Barbara Liegl, leader of component 4 on fundamental and human rights of the project, said that the EU-funded project aims to support important institutions in the areas of justice, law enforcement, anti-corruption and human rights. Its goal is to help these institutions become stronger, more effective and have a greater impact.

“Together with my team of experts, we work with public institutions to raise awareness of human rights and ensure their protection. We focus particularly on preventing discrimination and gender-based violence, promoting the effective reintegration and resocialization of offenders into society and protecting the rights of children. Today’s event marks the starting point of the ‘One in Five’ campaign to stop sexual violence against children, which was developed by the Council of Europe and implemented in many of its member states. The campaign materials were translated into Macedonian and Albanian by our project with financial support from the EU,” Liegl said.

According to the available data, she explained, one in five children in Europe is a victim of some form of sexual violence, which includes sexual abuse, child pornography, sexual exploitation, online abuse, or peer harassment.

She said that the National Action Plan on Child Rights was developed within their project, together with the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth and all public institutions involved in its implementation, and that children actively participated in its development.

“The campaign materials we are presenting today aim to achieve a common goal: supporting the improvement of safety in schools, communities, and homes by offering clear, practical guidance for teachers, school staff, families, and young people themselves. These tools are designed to help us notice when something may be wrong, respond with care, and understand where to seek help if a child is harmed. Recognizing the signs of abuse and knowing how to respond can make a difference in the life of a young person who needs support,” Liegl said.

Photo: MIA