Women’s Legal Protection Project

Speeches Shim

Start date: October 1, 2014    
End date:  September 30, 2017  
Project budget:  $388,978
Implementer:   Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women in Macedonia (ESE), in partnership with two local organizations - Open Gate La Strada, and the Coalition for Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities.
Objectives
Provision of adequate legal protection for women victims of all forms of gender based violence and discrimination, including domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking in human beings and sex work.
Components
  • Assessment of court protection of GBV victims through court case monitoring and training of judges on international standards per the Convention for Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
  • Identifying obstacles and preparing amendments to laws to improve protection of GBV victims
  • Strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs) to use international and regional mechanisms for protection of women's human rights, and preparation of real cases for strategic litigation
Expected Results/ Impact
  • Conducted court monitoring of 142 court cases/ 852 court hearings and assessed level of court protection provided to the vulnerable categories of women victims of violence;
  • Strengthened capacities of 20 judges for application of the international human rights standards for protection as stipulated in CEDAW;
  • Increased level of information among the victims about the court system and the procedures for protection;
  • Prepared recommendations for advancement, changing and amending existing laws in accordance with the specific needs of each vulnerable group of women victims of violence;
  • Strengthened capacities of 10 civil society organizations to use international and regional mechanisms for protection of women's human rights (Optional protocol to CEDAW and European Court of Human Rights);
  • Initiated 6 individual cases for strategic litigation;
  • Provided free legal aid and assistance to 700 women victims of violence and gender based discrimination.
Contact Information
 
Contact at USAID: Melita Cokrevska, AOR, mcokrevska@usaid.gov 
Chief of Party:  Jasminka Friscik, jasminkafriscik@esem.org.mk
Information Officer:  Marija Gelevska, marijagelevska@esem.org.mk