North Macedonia

forced labour and other ill-treatment, and harsh conditions including inadequate food. Many of them had not been convicted of any internationally recognizable criminal offence and were arbitrarily detained solely because they were related to people who were deemed a threat to the state or for “guilt-byassociation”. Others were detained for exercising their rights, such as the freedom to leave their own country.

At least six South Korean nationals were in custody. Three of them were missionaries serving life sentences and three were originally North Koreans who had moved to the South. The authorities denied their rights to access South Korean diplomats, lawyers of their choice, or their families.

1. North Korea: No COVID-19 cases? Two medical professionals tell their story (News story, 9 July)

Republic of North Macedonia Head of state: Stevo Pendarovski Head of government: Zoran Zaev (until 3 January and from 20 August); Oliver Spasovki (caretaker from 6 January, until July elections)

Despite the implementation of reforms identified by the European Commission (EC), concerns remained about impunity, hate speech, discrimination against women, Roma, and LGBTI people. Unlawful detention and pushbacks of refugees and migrants continued.

BACKGROUND

The EC approved the start of accession talks in March, recognizing progress in judicial, policing and security service reform and in addressing organized crime and corruption. In September, the government announced a media reform programme, which included addressing the proliferation of “fake news”.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, states of emergency were declared from mid-March and lifted in mid-June to enable campaigning for parliamentary elections in July. The police were selective in enforcing compliance with curfews and the ban on religious or public gatherings.

In April, the government cut NGO funding by €525,000, compromising their ability to deliver essential services. Courts barely functioned, making slow progress in prosecuting individuals charged with violating COVID-19 restrictions.

IMPUNITY

Legislation in March closed the Special Prosecution Office, created in 2015 with jurisdiction over alleged serious crimes, including human rights violations, by former government ministers and officials. Over 20 unprosecuted cases were transferred to the Public Prosecutor. The trial of the former secret police chief and Interior Minister for their involvement in unlawful surveillance continued. In June, former Special Prosecutor Katica Janeva was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for abuse of office.

North Macedonia had not yet ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, signed in February 2007.

DISCRIMINATION

Discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, gender and sexual orientation persisted, often fuelled by the pandemic. Hate speech and misinformation on social media often targeted Albanian citizens. The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights reported an 80% increase in anti-Islamic hate speech before the elections, and in July filed five criminal charges for spreading hatred.

Roma

Roma suffered discrimination in accessing COVID-19-related financial benefits. Instead of government support, vulnerable families received occasional humanitarian packages from NGOs and some municipalities. The National Roma Centrum also assisted Roma families required to self-isolate.

In March, nine Roma musicians who had travelled through Italy in a 200-person