COVID-19 has accelerated the erosion of democratic values across the world, including the Western Balkans. Among the other states in the region, North Macedonia, trying to keep pace with the pandemic’s human rights challenges, has reinforced severe restrictions. The pandemic expanded the current gap between legislation and reality in human rights protection in the country. Besides the increasing obligations to implement international standards, the enforcement on the national level lags behind. The national system’s preparation for their application has been slow, particularly in gender equality, children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the adoption and implementation of the acquis on procedural rights, including victims of criminal acts. Read more here.
Source: Politikon Network