Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV) perpetrated in the digital sphere has a serious impact on the lives of women and girls, including their psychological and physical health, livelihood, physical safety, and reputation. Technology-facilitated violence, including sexual violence, is not always gender-based, but the statistics of the reported cases and the experiences of persons who have suffered from any form of technology-facilitated violence show that women and girls are disproportionally affected. Therefore, the need for protection and legal reforms that specifically address technology- facilitated gender-based violence (in the following text, technology-facilitated GBV), including sexual violence, is recognized at the international and national level and is the primary focus of this analysis.

This analysis was produced with the generous support of the Government of the Republic of Korea to UNDP through the “Combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Digital Sphere” Project. The Project is implemented by the UNDP Office in Skopje in cooperation with the UNDP Seoul Policy Center, as part of the SDG Partnerships Programme. The analysis was developed by the National Consultant Neda Chalovska Dimovska in an inclusive consultative process with all relevant stakeholders. The purpose of the analysis is to explore the legislative and institutional gaps in the system and provide concrete recommendations for a robust response to technology-facilitated gender-based violence in North Macedonia. 

The analysis identified that women and girls are disproportionately affected by forms of digital violence. In particular, younger women in the ages 18-24 are significantly at risk of TF-GBV. The analysis recommends legislative reforms and changes to the institutional and strategic framework, as well as strengthened inter-sectoral collaboration, in order to provide effective protection of victims of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.