March 8 Protest in Skopje: ‘Femicide begins long before the final blow’

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Skopje, North Macedonia on March 8, 2026, for what organizers described as the largest International Women's Day demonstration yet, demanding government accountability for widespread femicide and domestic violence. The march, held under the slogan "We Will Not Disappear," began with remembrance for recent femicide victims, including a mother and daughter who died despite repeatedly reporting abuse to authorities. Protesters criticized government officials for inadequate responses to violence against women, while statistics revealed nearly 5,000 domestic violence reports in 2025 and 26 femicides over five years, with most victims being women and girls.