Preventing Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a crime. Studies show that as many as 50% of women in the country are affected by this crime at some point in their lives. Domestic violence also affects children, men and the elderly. Yet, the majority of victims suffer in silence – not realizing their legal rights, or that help is available.
In 2008, the Government adopted the National Strategy for Protection Against Domestic Violence. It focuses on improving awareness, response and prevention. The hope is that standardized and efficient responses, alongside better public awareness, will reduce domestic violence in the country. The UN is supporting the Government’s National Coordinative Body to implement the new Strategy in three areas:
- Support to improved national policy
- Assistance to improve support to victims
- By raising public awareness
The United Nations Joint Programme “Strengthening National Capacities to Prevent Domestic Violence” is implemented by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and UN Women, with financial support from the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.
See the Activities under the Programme and where we Work
Skopje Region
Norhteastern Region
Eastern Region
Southeastern Region
Vardar Region
Pelagonia Region
Southwestern Region
Polog Region
Ohrid Lake
Lake Ohrid (Macedonian: Охридско Езеро, Ohridsko Ezero; Albanian: Liqeni i Ohrit or Liqeni i Pogradecit) straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern Republic of Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, preserving a unique aquatic ecosystem with more than 200 endemic species that is of worldwide importance. The importance of the lake was further emphasized when it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979 and when, in 2010, NASA decided to name one of Titan's lakes after Lake Ohrid.
Prespa Lake
Prespa is the name of two freshwater lakes in southeast Europe, shared by Greece, Albania, and the Republic of Macedonia. Of the total surface area, 190 km² belongs to the Republic of Macedonia, 84.8 km² to Greece and 38.8 km² to Albania. They are the highest tectonic lakes in the Balkans, standing at an altitude of 853 m (2,798 ft).
The Great Prespa Lake (Macedonian: Преспанско Езеро, Prespansko Ezero, Greek: Μεγάλη Πρέσπα, Limni Megáli Préspa, Albanian: Liqeni i Prespes) is divided between Albania, Greece and the Republic of Macedonia. The Small Prespa Lake (Greek: Μικρή Πρέσπα, Limni Mikrá Prespa; Albanian: Prespa e Vogël) is shared only between Greece (138 km² drainage area; 43.5 km² surface area) and Albania (51 km² drainage area; 3.9 km² surface area).
In the 10th century, the tsar Samuil built the fortress and church of St. Achillius on an island called Agios Achillios in the Small Prespa Lake, on the Greek side of the border. The biggest island in the Great Prespa Lake, on the Republic of Macedonia's side, is called Golem Grad ("Large Town"), and Snake Island (Zmiski Ostrov). The other island Mal Grad (Small Town, in Albania) is the site of a ruined 14th century monastery dedicated to St. Peter. Today, both islands are uninhabited.
Because Great Prespa Lake sits about 150m above Lake Ohrid, which lies only about 10 km (6 miles) to the west, its waters run through underground channels in the karst and emerge from springs which feed streams running into Lake Ohrid.
For many years, the Greek part of the Prespa Lakes region was an underpopulated, military sensitive area which required special permission for outsiders to visit. It saw fierce fighting during the Greek Civil War and much of the local population subsequently emigrated to escape endemic poverty and political strife. The region remained little developed until the 1970s, when it began to be promoted as a tourist destination. With an abundance of rare fauna and flora, the area was declared a Transnational Park in 2000. The area contains four National Parks located in Albania, Greece, and Republic of Macedonia.
The largest town in the Prespa Lakes region is Resen in the Republic of Macedonia.
Dojran Lake
Dojran Lake (Macedonian: Доjранско Езеро, Dojransko Ezero; Greek: Λίμνη Δοϊράνη, Límni Doïráni) is a lake with an area of 43.1 km² shared between the Republic of Macedonia (27.3 km²) and West Macedonia within Greek Macedonia, Greece (15.8 km²). To the west is the city of Nov Dojran (Нов Дојран), to the east the village of Mouries, to the north the mountain Belasica/Beles and to the south the Greek town of Doirani. The lake has a rounded shape, a maximum depth of 10 m and a north-to-south length of 8.9 km and is 7.1 km at its widest, making it the third largest lake partially in the Republic of Macedonia after Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.
UN Partner Agencies
