North Macedonia
In early 2026, North Macedonia’s human rights landscape is primarily shaped by its ongoing efforts to align with European Union (EU) standards. While the country has made significant legislative strides, the "implementation gap"—where laws exist on paper but fail in practice—remains the central challenge, particularly concerning the judiciary, prison conditions, and the rights of marginalized groups.
1. Judicial Integrity and the Rule of Law
The independence of the judiciary is a major point of friction as the country pursues EU membership.
Low Public Trust: As of early 2025-2026, public perception of judicial independence remains critically low (below 30%). While a Judicial Reform Strategy (2024–2028) is in place, monitors note that the council responsible for its implementation has been slow to function effectively.
Corruption: Allegations of high-level corruption and "undue influence" on judges persist. In late 2025, the Supreme Court launched a project for judges to internally report interference, signaling that existing formal avenues are viewed as ineffective.
EU Stalling: Progress toward the EU remains hindered by the need for constitutional amendments to include Bulgarians as a "constituent people," a move that has sparked intense domestic political debate.
2. Prison Conditions and Torture
International monitors have issued sharp warnings regarding the treatment of detainees.
Idrizovo Prison: The country's largest prison continues to face criticism for "dilapidated facilities," severe overcrowding, and poor hygiene. The Council of Europe and UN committees have highlighted cases of physical ill-treatment by staff and inter-prisoner violence.
Systemic Neglect: Chronic underfunding and understaffing are identified as the root causes of what some monitors describe as "inhuman or degrading treatment." Recent reports in late 2025 emphasized inadequate healthcare and the over-medication of children in correctional institutions.
3. LGBTQ+ Rights: Stalled Progress
Despite being legal since 1996, LGBTQ+ rights have faced a significant "anti-gender" backlash in the last two years.
Legislative Stagnation: A bill to allow legal gender recognition for transgender people and a new Law on Gender Equality have both stalled in Parliament due to coordinated campaigns by religious leaders and conservative groups.
Hate Speech: Hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community remains widespread on social media. While the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination (CPPD) has been active in issuing opinions, the Criminal Code still lacks a comprehensive definition of hate speech that explicitly protects sexual orientation.
Successes: In late 2025, the courts applied aggravating circumstances in a sentencing for a 2022 assault on an activist, marking a rare but important win for legal accountability.
4. Media Freedom and Civic Space
North Macedonia generally allows for vigorous public discourse, but the environment for journalists is tightening.
Public Funding Risks: A 2024 amendment allowed state-funded advertisements to return to private media. Media regulators and journalists' associations warned in late 2025 that this "revived" old patterns of political influence, where the state can effectively "buy" favorable coverage.
Safety of Journalists: While physical attacks are less frequent than in previous decades, online harassment—particularly against female journalists—remains a serious concern.
5. Rights of the Roma Minority
The Roma community continues to face systemic discrimination and social exclusion.
School Segregation: In 2025, the CPPD confirmed instances of school segregation in towns like Prilep. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in early 2025 mandating equal access to education for Roma children in correctional homes, implementation has been slow.
Police Violence: Reports of police brutality against Roma individuals remain a concern. Advocacy groups have called for more transparent internal investigations within the Ministry of Interior to address ethnic profiling.