U.S. Department of State 2001 Trafficking in Persons Report - Macedonia
- Author: Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
- Document source:
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Date:
12 July 2001
Macedonia (Tier 2)
Macedonia is a transit and destination country for trafficking. Most victims are women who are trafficked for sexual exploitation from Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. Victims transit Macedonia to Italy, Albania, and Kosovo.
The Government of Macedonia does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government has taken significant steps to combat trafficking despite scarce resources and low-level corruption. The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking; however, traffickers can be tried under laws prohibiting slavery, kidnapping, illegal entry, and alien smuggling. The Government investigates and prosecutes trafficking, and courts have convicted at least three traffickers. A recently opened government shelter offers limited medical and psychological assistance to victims. Previously officials had typically treated all victims as criminals, but attitudes are changing due to sensitivity training. Rather than deporting victims, officials now send them to the shelter and to International Organization of Migration for repatriation assistance.
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