Monthly report on Irregular migration of women, accompanied and unaccompanied children and minors
In North Macedonia
(November, 2021)
About the project:
Monitoring access to human rights for refugees and migrants in Republic North Macedonia, supported by the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association includes monitoring of irregular migration and smuggling of people across the territory of North Macedonia. The project consists of:
1. Monitoring access to refugees and migrants in irregular migration and organized crime groups
2. Public awareness on irregular migration and organized crime
3. Legal counsel and cooperation with Institutions for improvement of the access to HR and protection for refugees and migrants in irregular migration
In accordance activities, Legis publishes monthly reports on irregular migration and access to HR and protection with focus on women and children and, overall population in irregular migration.
Northern border:
Irregular migration on the Northern border is concentrated in the so called Lipkovo region and villages: Vaksince, Lojane and Sopot. For the month of November, 35 migrants from Syria, 13 unaccompanied minors were caught in village Lojane and taken to the Northern border camp Tabanovce. The next day on 20.11.2021, the group went to Serbia and made a complaint for being harassed in Lojane, however, did not provide details or made official complaint within the camp during interviews.
Southern border:
Irregular migration on the Southern border is concentrated in the so called Demir Kapija region, cities: Gevgelija, Dojran, Bogdanci and Valandovo, and focal villages: Udovo, Mrzenci, Miravci and other small villages as it is heavy populated border. For the month of November, our team has reported 20 people, groups and/or individuals in irregular migration and/or transit organized by criminal groups brought within the Southern camp Gevgelija. Groups or individuals caught in irregular migration in this region are processed within the border camp Vinojug-Gevgelija and pushed back to Greece within few hours. Only IOM staff has access to records and people caught in irregular migration in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal affairs.
Criminal cases:
A competent public prosecutor from the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption has issued an order to conduct an investigation against two adults from Pakistan and two juveniles from Afghanistan at 21 of November. The suspects are charged with the criminal offense of Organizing a group and inciting the commission of the offenses of trafficking in human beings, trafficking in minors and smuggling of migrants under Article 418-c paragraph 2 and the crime of Smuggling of migrants under Article 418-b paragraph 4 c. c. paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code.
In this so called camps, migrants were forcibly detained, their mobile phones and personal documents confiscated, preventing them from having any contact outside the camps. Taking advantage of their powerlessness, the suspects physically abused the victims, photographed them and sent the photos to their families, asking them for money to let the victims continue on their route, using force and threats to extort money from the victims. behaved in an extremely cruel and humiliating manner, and had sexual relations with some. As a result of international cooperation with the law enforcement authorities from the Republic of Serbia, where two damaged migrants reported the events, the improvised camp was discovered and the coordinated action was carried out yesterday. Thirty-five migrants were found in the camp, nine of whom were children aged fourteen and fifteen. The suspects were brought before a pre-trial judge who accepted the proposal of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office to prosecute organized crime and corruption and determined a measure of detention for all suspects – detention for 30 days. The crimes for which the suspects are charged are punishable by imprisonment of at least 8 years.
