The Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, attended the event "To bring justice closer to citizens", organized by the Program Office of the Council of Europe in Skopje. Speaking about the importance of achieving effective access to justice for all, Minister Filkov in his address referred to the activities undertaken by the Ministry of Justice in the field of free legal aid for vulnerable categories.
"During the period from January 1 to October 31, 2024, the Ministry of Justice provided primary legal assistance to 2,360 citizens who requested it. Secondary legal aid, which includes hiring a lawyer in court proceedings, including civil and administrative proceedings, was reviewed in 238 requests from citizens. Of them, 171 people had their requests approved, and only 28 have been rejected. Our goal, both as the Ministry and the Government, is to provide all the prerequisites for every citizen, regardless of economic status or social origin, to have the opportunity to claim protection before the court, under the same conditions, as all other citizens," said Filkov.
The Law on Payment of Monetary Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes is also of particular importance, the aim of which is to provide support to victims. In October 2024, the Office of the Commission was opened, all the preconditions for uninterrupted functioning were created, and 6 cases have already been dealt with.
The Ministry of Justice will continue with dedication to create the conditions for a strong and effective judicial system, in which all citizens will be able to feel safe and fairly treated.
The Minister of Justice also expressed his gratitude to the Program Office of the Council of Europe in Skopje, which, through its outreach projects, selflessly advocated for the comprehensive improvement of the capacities of the regional departments of the Ministry of Justice, through numerous trainings and workshops.
The Program Office of the Council of Europe in Skopje awarded prizes and certificates to the winners and participants of the photography and drawing competition "Let us bring justice closer to the citizens".
