OSCE Mission to Skopje 16 Days of Activism Calendar of Events

25 November: Raising of the OSCE 16 Days Flag

The Mission marks the official start of the 16 Days of Activism campaign with the symbolic raising of the OSCE flag. Staff and leadership gather to reaffirm the Mission’s commitment to preventing and ending violence against women and girls. This moment opens the campaign with a clear message of solidarity, responsibility and shared action.

25 November: Flagship Event on Femicide – “From Reporting Violence to Preventing Femicide”

11:30–14:30 The Mission’s flagship event this year convenes high-level representatives from the Presidency, Government, ministries, judiciary, prosecution, police, academia and civil society to strengthen national efforts to prevent femicide. The event highlights the need to shift from incident-driven responses to proactive, risk-informed and coordinated action to protect women’s lives.

The programme includes symbolic opening elements, remarks by senior leadership, a keynote address by the President and an expert panel discussion focusing on institutional gaps, emerging practices and multisectoral cooperation. The event amplifies the campaign theme Voice Back. Act Together. and reinforces the need for a unified, accountable system capable of recognising warning signs early, sharing information effectively and preventing fatal outcomes.

25 Nov – 10 Dec: 16 Men for 16 Days – Digital Allyship Series

A daily digital series highlighting men who speak out against violence and advocate for respect, equality and shared responsibility. Through short, personal messages, each participant reflects on the role men can play in prevention by challenging harmful norms, standing in solidarity and promoting safer and more supportive communities. The series amplifies voices from different sectors and reminds the public that ending violence against women requires active commitment from everyone, including men and boys.

25 November: OSCE Joins National Campaign with Partners to End Gender-Based Violence

The Mission joins the United Nations, Government representatives, youth, civil society and partners for the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign. The event highlights a renewed collective commitment to ending gender-based violence, with an emphasis on prevention, accountability and stronger institutional responses.

As part of the programme, a social theatre performance offers a powerful and interactive way for participants especially students and young people to reflect on the realities of violence, challenge harmful social norms and explore pathways for change. Through dialogue, engagement and creative expression, the launch reinforces that advancing safety and equality requires the shared responsibility of everyone.

28 November – 10 December: Footprint, Posters & LED Visibility Activations – East Gate Mall and Diamond Mall 

A large-scale visibility initiative carried out across two of Skopje’s most frequented public spaces, bringing the campaign’s messages directly into everyday life. The activation includes symbolic footprint installations, posters placed in female restrooms with information on support services and early warning signs and the prominent display of campaign visuals on large LED screens provided pro bono by both malls.

By placing awareness messages in high-traffic environments where thousands of people pass daily, the initiative expands the campaign’s reach far beyond traditional platforms, ensuring continuous, accessible reminders of the importance of prevention, solidarity and zero tolerance for violence against women and girls.

28 November – 10 December: Cultural Visibility Activation – Theatres & Philharmonic

A nationwide cultural outreach initiative implemented in partnership with eight national cultural institutions, including the Macedonian National Theatre, Drama Theatre Skopje, National Opera and Ballet, Albanian Theatre Skopje, Tetovo Theatre, National Theatre Bitola, the Philharmonic and Cineplexx.

Throughout the campaign, audiences are engaged through multilingual audio messages played before performances and 5,000 printed leaflets (in Macedonian and Albanian) distributed with purchased tickets. By integrating campaign messages into theatres, concerts and cinema venues across the country, this activation reaches diverse audiences far beyond traditional awareness channels and brings the conversation on violence against women into spaces of culture, reflection and public life.

30 November: Broadcast of Flagship Femicide Event – TV Sitel

The flagship event “From Reporting Violence to Preventing Femicide” will be broadcast on TV Sitel, offering the public direct access to messages and discussions from government officials, justice-sector representatives, civil society actors and media engaged in the fight against gender-based violence. The broadcast will bring into living rooms across the country the event’s highlights keynote speeches, panel discussions and calls for systemic reforms  ensuring broad outreach beyond the in-person audience.

As the leading national broadcaster with extensive coverage across North Macedonia, Sitel reaches a large and diverse audience, making this broadcast a powerful tool for raising public awareness, fostering social dialogue and promoting collective responsibility. 

2 December: Recording of Podcast Episode “From Silence to Accountability”

A 30-minute podcast moderated by journalist Nazim Rashidi, bringing together Prosecutor Elena Zhakula and University Professor Vedije Ratkoceri for an in-depth conversation on violence against women and the institutional and societal factors that enable it. The discussion focuses on prevention, accountability and the shared responsibility of institutions, communities and individuals.

The episode aims to foster open public dialogue and deepen understanding of how coordinated action can help protect women and girls from violence, aligning with the campaign’s central call to Voice Back. Act Together.

7 December: Broadcast of 16 Days Podcast – Online (TBC)

Podcast episode published, sharing insights on prevention, coordination and institutional responsibility.

8 December: Climb for Change – Solidarity Hike

Mission staff come together for a symbolic solidarity hike on Vodno, wearing campaign visuals to raise awareness and demonstrate collective commitment to preventing violence against women and girls. The hike serves as a moment of unity, reflection and shared resolve, reinforcing that standing against violence is not only an institutional responsibility, but a personal and community one as well.

10 December: Walk for Awareness – Closing Event

To mark Human Rights Day and conclude the 16 Days campaign, the Mission organizes a public Walk for Awareness through the city centre. Staff, partners and community members join together in a visible show of solidarity, carrying campaign visuals and reinforcing the message that preventing violence against women is a shared societal responsibility. The walk serves as a powerful closing call to action, inviting all citizens to speak up, support survivors and help build a safer and more equal society.

10 December: Closing Digital Post

Final wrap-up message for campaign.