The Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, is once again marking the European Day of Justice in  North Macedonia, this time with a drawing and essay competition, under the slogan “Let’s bring justice closer to the citizens”. This initiative invites children and young people from North Macedonia, to reflect on the importance of equal access to justice for all, without discrimination. Through creative expression of visual art, participants are encouraged to share their vision of justice, fairness, human rights as well as combating hatred and intolerance. The competition will be opened from 29 September – 25 October 2025 and all qualified drawings will be exhibited to the public in an open event on 20 November 2025, and the qualified drawings will be published in a booklet, as well as online.

The European Day of Justice, celebrated each year around 25 October, aims to bring justice closer to citizens, by informing them on their rights and promoting the work of the European Union and Council of Europe in the field of access to justice. Since 2020, the European Day of Justice is marked in North Macedonia with public events and other activities that are organised with the support of the joint EU and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

This year’s competition provides a platform for children, young artists, and aspiring writers to highlight how justice can empower people, strengthen equality, and combat discrimination and intolerance.

By engaging the creativity and ideas of young people, this competition will not only celebrate talent and art but will also inspire a new generation of young people to value justice, equality, and human rights. It is a reminder that building a fair and equal society begins with self-awareness — and that every citizen, no matter their age, has a role to play in bringing justice closer to all.

Submissions can be made either by delivering the physical artwork to the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje or by emailing your work.

For detailed information on this initiative please download the leaflet.