• Tuesday, 24 December 2024

N. Macedonia to focus on freedom of expression, protection of journalists in coming period, says Grkovska

N. Macedonia to focus on freedom of expression, protection of journalists in coming period, says Grkovska
Skopje, 28 September 2022 (MIA) - Improving healthcare services in prisons, building law enforcement capacities to fight against human trafficking and strengthening judiciary capacities regarding freedom of expression, media freedom and protection of journalists are some of the key areas North Macedonia has to focus on in the coming period, said Deputy Prime Minister for Good Governance Policies Slavica Grkovska on Wednesday. She is taking part in a closing conference, held in Budva, Montenegro, for the project "Action Against Economic Crime", as part of the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey, which is supported by the Council of Europe and the European Union, her office said. In cooperation with our international partners, Grkovska said, in the coming period, the system to fight against hate speech and hate crime will be strengthened and awareness will be raised over the threats from hate speech in our society, the fight against discrimination and protection against vulnerable groups. "All of the mentioned above is strongly connected to the efforts of the government of North Macedonia made in the process to access the EU, especially involving chapters 23 and 24," she said adding that significant progress has been made in the process of preventing and fighting against human trafficking for labor exploitation and trafficking of children. "I have to mention that the work done in the past six years in the Republic of North Macedonia through all actions as part of the Horizontal Facility has contributed enormously for the overall progress of all institutions, beneficiaries of this project," Grkovska said amongst other things.