Specialised service for psycho-social counselling to women victims of gender – based and domestic violence now available in the Strumica Region

A local campaign was launched for the promotion of the new specialized service “Skaj Plus” in Strumica providing psycho-social counselling to women victims of gender – based and domestic violence. During the past five months, over 48 women survivors have received support from the counselling center, including women from rural areas, with disabilities, and belonging to ethnic minorities. Health Education and Research Association (HERA), a local partner organization of UN Women North Macedonia, assisted the opening of the new service through a series of capacity building trainings and the provision of mentoring support.

The counselling centre is an excellent example of cooperation between civil society and the local authorities, as the Municipality of Strumica is actively supporting the functioning of the service and has envisioned budgetary means in its Local Action Plan for Gender Based Violence.

During an official opening event in early May 2022, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska, visited the service, expressed strong support, and confirmed the Government’s commitment for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.



More info here 

The opening of the specialized service is part of the regional UN Women programme “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds,” financially supported by the European Union.