The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with the Minister of Labor and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia, Spiro Ristovski.

At the meeting, attended by the Mayor of the Municipality of Gazi Baba, Toni Trajkovski and the UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Macedonia, Vesna Dzuteska Bisheva, the National Strategy for Prevention and Protection of Domestic Violence 2012-2015 was presented, and, at the same time, President Ivanov was informed of the final activities for the opening of a new reception center for victims of domestic violence in the municipality of Gazi Baba.

President Ivanov expressed his support for the future activities aimed at implementation of the National Strategy, and emphasized the need for this issue to be raised at the highest state level, with joint efforts and coordinated approach of all relevant institutions in combating domestic violence. I believe in the successfully set up system, and I think we all need to fulfill our duties for the victims of domestic violence, President Ivanov said at the meeting, while emphasizing the role of the media in raising public awareness for prevention of this phenomenon. The President welcomed the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia to take all necessary measures to eliminate domestic violence and stressed the need for preventive action and adequate protection and proper assistance for the victims.

Minister of Labor and Social Policy thanked President Ivanov for his support in creating an environment that will continuously improve the situation in terms of prevention and protection of domestic violence. For us as, a ministry and as a government, of paramount importance is the awareness regarding this issue at the highest level. Direct involvement and support received from the Head of State today is of extreme importance for us, and for all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia. We will continue in the direction, with a quality and certainly preventive fight against domestic violence, Minister Spirovski said.

The National Strategy for Prevention and Protection of Domestic Violence 2012-2015, adopted in July 2012 by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, will be implemented through five strategic areas: prevention, protection, assistance and support to victims of domestic violence; prosecution of perpetrators; multi-agency cooperation and increasing the institutional capacity; monitoring and evaluation.