Recognising the vital role of journalists as watchdogs of democracy, police forces in North Macedonia were empowered with tools and knowledge to better protect media professionals from threats, harassment, and violence—both offline and online.

In this framework, with the support of the EU and Council of Europe joint action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)”, the Ministry of Interior’s Training Centre hosted a specialised training session aimed at strengthening police officers’ capacity to protect journalists and uphold freedom of expression – “Enhancing police capacity for journalist protection in North Macedonia: Focus on safety, gender-based violence, and online harassment”. This event also introduced the achievements of the Council of Europe’s wider “Journalists Matter” campaign.

Participants included senior leadership and spokespersons from the State Police, Police Training Centre, and the Computer Crime Sector. In addition, the Regional Police Departments were represented by their top management and communication officers, underscoring the vital role of operational leadership and public communication in journalist protection. This broad participation demonstrates a nationwide commitment to co-ordinated institutional responses and victim support related to crimes against journalists. Moreover, this training served as an important step toward incorporating similar sessions into regular and ongoing police training programs, ensuring continuous capacity building for officers throughout North Macedonia.

Despite the achieved progress — reflected in the country’s 36th place in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index—concerns remain, especially ahead of the 2025 local elections, when the risk of attacks and online harassment typically rises. The recent drop to 42nd place in the 2025 index by Reporters Without Borders highlights the continued need for enhanced journalist safety measures.

Discussions focused on improving police knowledge and skills in investigating and responding to threats against journalists, with special emphasis on gender-sensitive and victim-centred policing. Presentations covered important topics including the protection of freedom of expression, legal frameworks, gender-based violence, and practical exercises designed to foster respectful and confidential communication with media professionals.

During the activity, the National Focal Point for the Council of Europe “Journalists Matter” Campaign, Мr Muhamed Ismaili, Assistant Minister for the Department of Public Relations and Strategic Issues in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia, also contributed, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve journalists’ safety and presenting future awareness raising initiatives for North Macedonia.

Throughout the training, participants deepened their understanding of Council of Europe standards, including Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors, and exchanged best practices for investigating threats and ensuring timely institutional cooperation. The importance of addressing gender-specific threats – particularly against women journalists – and combating online harassment through specialised knowledge and tools was strongly emphasised.

Participants valued the practical insights gained and pledged to apply this knowledge to foster a safer, more supportive environment for journalists across North Macedonia. As part of this effort, it was proposed by the National Focal Point that spokespersons of the Regional Police Departments around the country (or designated media contact persons where a spokesperson is currently unavailable) be established as local contact points where journalists can report concerns related to their safety.

The training was organised  in the framework of the Council of Europe and EU joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and its action on “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)”, implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression.