Association for action against violence and trafficking in human beings

EU Legislative Interests

CSA Regulation (COM/2022/209), the revision of Directive 2011/93/EU, and the EU Strategy for a More Effective Fight against Child Sexual Abuse (2020–2025). We also target the Anti-Trafficking Directive revision (COM/2022/732; Directive (EU) 2024/1712), the Directive on combating violence against women (COM/2022/105), and the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive (COM/2023/424). Complementary frameworks include the Victims’ Rights Strategy (2020–2025), the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child (2021–2024), the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, and the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065),Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (2024/1760) — corporate human rights and environmental due diligence obligations in value chains , Cyber Solidarity Act (Regulation (EU) 2025/38)

Communication Activities

Open Gate / La Strada has consistently aligned its national advocacy and communication work with EU directives and strategies, ensuring that reforms in North Macedonia reflect European human rights standards. Four major strands of activity illustrate this trajectory: 1. Justice at Last Campaign (2018–2020) As part of the European campaign coordinated by La Strada International, Open Gate implemented Justice at Last in North Macedonia. The campaign focused on victims’ right to compensation, a right enshrined in the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive (2011/36/EU) and the Victims’ Rights Directive (2012/29/EU). Through national awareness-raising events, media outreach, survivor testimonies, and legal analysis, Open Gate exposed barriers that victims face in accessing justice and compensation. The campaign mobilized stakeholders, created pressure for legal reforms, and ensured that survivor voices shaped advocacy at both national and EU levels. 2. Advocacy for the Law on Compensation (2018–2023) Building on Justice at Last, Open Gate engaged in sustained advocacy for the adoption of a Law on Compensation for Victims of Violent Crime, which was finally adopted in 2023. The organization drafted legal studies, prepared comparative analyses of EU practices, and organized consultations with ministries, parliamentarians, and the National Commission for Combating Trafficking. Survivor perspectives were central in these efforts, and public events helped to generate broad awareness. This advocacy was directly inspired by EU legal standards and GRETA recommendations and positioned North Macedonia to align with European victim rights frameworks. 3. Advocacy for Criminalization of Forced Marriage (2025) In parallel, Open Gate identified gaps in the Criminal Code regarding forced and child marriage, forms of exploitation not adequately addressed at the time. Through legal mapping, expert inputs, and regional advocacy, the organization push for recognition of forced marriage as a crime, linking national reform to the Istanbul Convention and to the 2024 revision of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1712), which now explicitly includes forced marriage. Public campaigns such as “I Do Not Consent to Forced Marriage” raised awareness and mobilized young people, while survivor testimonies brought urgency and legitimacy to policy dialogues. Open Gate has produced an extensive body of publications and reports that serve as advocacy tools and knowledge products:

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

Full Memberships: La Strada International (LSI) – European NGO platform against trafficking in human beings. https://www.lastradainternational.org Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) – Global network promoting rights-based approaches to trafficking. https://gaatw.org Missing Children Europe (MCE) – European federation for missing and sexually exploited children; Open Gate operates the 116000 hotline in North Macedonia. https://missingchildreneurope.eu National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration (North Macedonia) – Civil society representative in a governmental coordination mechanism. Associated Networks and Platforms: Balkan Regional Anti-Trafficking Network (with ASTRA Serbia, Vatra Albania, etc.) – regional cooperation on protection and advocacy. GAATW European Members Group – regional cluster within GAATW for policy alignment. CSO Platform Against Trafficking in Human Beings (North Macedonia) – local civil society coalition coordinated by Open Gate. Contributions and Sponsorships: Active contributor to GRETA (Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings) processes through shadow reporting and consultations. Contributor to U.S. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report consultations. Contributor to European Commission consultations on the revision of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive and Child Sexual Abuse Directive.

Organisation Members

Open Gate / La Strada is a non-governmental, non-profit association registered in North Macedonia. Unlike federations or umbrella bodies, it does not have individual or organizational members in the classic sense (such as an association of members). Instead, it functions as an independent NGO, governed by its own General Assembly and Board. Members: Open Gate’s formal members are limited to its founding members and General Assembly representatives, who oversee the strategic direction of the organization. These individuals are not publicized as “members” in the way federations list their affiliates, but are the legal members of the NGO association. Affiliated Entities: Open Gate does not have affiliated entities or subsidiaries. Instead, it is directly linked through membership in international and regional networks (e.g., La Strada International, GAATW, Missing Children Europe). Staff and Governance: The organization is managed by a Board and an Executive Team (Executive Director, Program Director, Finance/Admin Manager, Project Coordinators, etc.), supported by social workers, legal advisors, and volunteers. These are staff and governance bodies, not “members.”

Additional Information

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