Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Maricik addressed the graduates of The SAIS International Human Rights Law Clinic today, on the topic of International Human Rights and Human Trafficking: The case of North Macedonia.

- The issue of human trafficking is high on the agenda of the Government, firstly because having effective mechanisms to prevent and suppress criminal activities is mandatory for any democratic society, and secondly, as a candidate country for EU membership, we have undertaken to implement appropriate measures and activities to combat, including human trafficking, under Article 78 of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, Maricik said.

Deputy Prime Minister Maricik pointed out that the Government has provided a basis for the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime with its two protocols (Palermo), as well as the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking, which creates a broad legal framework to combat against human trafficking, with a special focus on children. He also briefly referred to the legal framework of the country which covers various aspects related to the prevention and fight against human trafficking, harmonized with international standards and best practices of EU law, such as the Directive on Prevention and Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings and Protection of its victims.

- If you ask me could we do more, I would always say yes. More can always be done - better legislation, more effective prevention and prosecution are challenges not only for our country, but I would say even worldwide. However, I believe a lot has been done and this is confirmed in the US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report 2021, which ranks North Macedonia for the sixth year in a row (since 2016) in the Level 2 Group (countries which governments make significant efforts to comply with those standards, said Deputy Prime Minister Maricik, adding that it adequately values the Government's commitment in this area, but more importantly encouragement to redouble our efforts and address all challenges for better results in the future.