At the Third Judicial Forum on Gender Equality in the Western Balkans, the Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, said that there is no progress in society without respect for the fundamental human rights of every individual.
“Gender equality is not only a moral value. It is a fundamental pillar of a modern legal and democratic society. This concept is embedded in numerous laws and by-laws, but in order to be fully realized, we must practice it without compromise, without stereotypes and without prejudice.
Gender equality is not only a right, but also an obligation. There is no progress in society without respect for the fundamental human rights of every individual. Threatening gender equality also threatens respect for fundamental human freedoms and rights,” said Minister of Justice Igor Filkov.
Minister Filkov noted that we were one of the first countries to sign the Istanbul Convention in 2011. After its ratification in 2018, we made the first legal amendments that criminalize gender-based violence and introduce the new qualification of femicide, with strictly defined penalties. The Criminal Code has already been amended and harmonized with the Istanbul Convention.
For the crime of murder - femicide, a minimum of ten years in prison or life imprisonment is provided for when committing gender-based violence.
Progress has also been achieved with the adoption of the Law on Payment of Financial Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes. This prevents secondary victimization as additional suffering for the victims, most of whom are women.
In October 2024, we opened the office of the Commission for Financial Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes, which is successfully functioning and processing the procedures.
"Every case of gender-based violence, every case of femicide is a tragedy that must encourage us to act faster and stronger. Our commitment is clear: we will not allow systemic failures. We must not allow victims to remain unprotected and perpetrators to remain unpunished. The judiciary, prosecutors' offices and all relevant institutions must be focused on an effective and decisive approach, with a strong emphasis on the seriousness of these acts and their social impact. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice will continue to invest in the legal system, to provide real protection for all victims and we will continue to work on improving access to justice," emphasized Minister Filkov.
