For the first time, 400 Macedonian police candidates were introduced to anti-discrimination law at such an early stage of their training, reflecting on their own prejudices and stereotypes as well as their impact on professional conduct. They examined prejudices and stereotypes, their impact on professional attitudes, and explored practical tools to ensure fair treatment of victims of discrimination or abuse.

The team of trainers – comprising four of the project’s experts – Karin Bischof, Natasha Boshkova, Dieter Schindlauer, and Ljupka Trajanovska – was prominently supported by Peter Lamplot, Deputy Head of the Department for International Affairs at the Austrian Police Academy (SIAK) of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI). His 40 years of policing experience and commitment to strengthening police-community relationships through respectful and unbiased interactions left a lasting impression on the future officers.

Prior to this intensive workshop week, the team of trainers had already trained representatives of the Macedonian MoI Training Centre to build capacity and ensure sustainability. Members of the national equality body, the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, also contributed their expertise in some of the 14 workshops.

It was a memorable and unique experience for both trainers and participants due to its interactive and engaging character. The participants expressed a strong desire for more capacity-building of this kind: self-reflective, practice-oriented, and values-driven.

“EU Support for Rule of Law in North Macedonia” is a project led by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights in cooperation with CILC (Center for International Legal Cooperation), Netherlands; the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia; the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia; and funded by the European Commission.