Title of the Action: WE CARE – Together against sexual and gender-based violence
Contract number: IPA III/2024/453-368 supported by the European Commission
- Background
North Macedonia faces significant challenges in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual violence. Key issues include inadequate education and training for professionals in both state institutions and the civil sector, unclear cross-institutional protocols for cooperation, insufficient follow-up on reported cases, limited services for sexual violence and rape victims, and a lack of punitive measures for perpetrators. Although sexual violence and rape are criminalized under the Criminal Code, there is limited experience in implementing this legislation. Furthermore, the country has not fully met the minimum standards of the Istanbul Convention; there are only three rape referral centers, which provide incomplete services. The high prevalence of sexual harassment (30%) is recognized and reported, but only 3% of victims report sexual violence. This low reporting rate is primarily due to societal stigma, lack of trust in institutions, and the non-recognition of marital rape as violence. Victims who do report face challenges such as institutional refusal to protect them, victim-blaming, and abrupt termination of procedures by authorities. Alarmingly, in 2019-2020, no criminal convictions for rape were issued in North Macedonia. Additionally, civil society organizations (CSOs), especially at the local level, have limited capacity to handle sexual violence cases and require further support in service provision, advocacy, and cooperation with local authorities. Law enforcement institutions also exhibit low levels of coordination, ineffective prosecution, lenient penal policies, and delays in criminal procedures.
To address these challenges, the National Network against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence – Voice against Violence, in collaboration with HERA, is publishing an Open call for Expert/Mentor for the Public Prosecutor’s Office in North Macedonia. Austria’s Public Prosecutor’s Office is recognized for its effective procedures in addressing GBV, particularly in cases of sexual harassment and sexual violence. The tasks under this open call falls under Outcome 3: To build capacities of key institutions for gender-sensitive and human rights-based investigation and reporting in cases of sexual violence. A key activity is mentoring prosecutors in North Macedonia by drawing on the knowledge and experience of a peer prosecutor with proven expertise in prosecuting sexual and gender based violence cases.
- Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this mentorship tasks is to contribute to the advancement of democracy and the rule of law in North Macedonia by strengthening the capacity of public prosecutors to uphold justice in cases of sexual and gender based violence. Through the transfer of knowledge, practical insights and professional support, the mentorship will promote gender-sensitive and human rights-based standards in investigation and prosecution, ensuring that survivors’ rights are protected and that the justice system responds effectively and fairly to such crimes. The Austrian prosecution service has been recognized as particularly suitable for the transfer of such knowledge and expertise, building on the study visit organized within the framework of this project in June 2025, thereby ensuring continuity and consolidation of the learning process.
III. Scope of Work and Tasks
The mentor will:
- Prepare a Mentoring Plan: Develop a structured plan for the mentoring process, in consultation with HERA and the designated prosecutors in North Macedonia;
- Deliver Mentoring Sessions: Conduct mentoring sessions, either online or in person, with prosecutors in North Macedonia. The sessions will focus on case management, legal frameworks, victim-centered approaches and effective prosecution strategies in sexual violence cases;
- Provide Final Reporting: Prepare and submit a final report summarizing the mentoring process, key insights and recommendations for further capacity development.
- Duration and Timeframe
The assignment will take place between September and December 2025 and the total engagement is 6 working days, disturbed as following:
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- 2 day: Preparation of mentoring plan;
- 3 days: 5 Mentoring sessions ( 3- 5 hours online or physical);
- 1 day: Preparation and submission of final report.
- Deliverables
The mentor will be expected to produce the following key deliverables as part of this assignment, ensuring that the mentoring process is well-structured, documented, and results-oriented:
- Mentoring Plan: a structured document outlining the objectives, methodology, and schedule of the mentorship sessions;
- Mentoring Sessions: delivery of a minimum of six (6) days of online or in-person sessions with prosecutors in North Macedonia;
- Final Report: a comprehensive report summarizing the mentoring activities, key lessons learned, and recommendations for further capacity development.
- Coordination and Reporting
The mentor will work in close coordination with the HERA team to ensure timely communication and alignment with the project’s objectives. In addition, the mentor will maintain regular cooperation with the designated focal points from the Prosecution Office of North Macedonia, fostering consistency and transparency throughout the process. At the end of the engagement, the mentor will prepare and submit a final report to HERA, summarizing the activities carried out, the results achieved, and recommendations for further capacity strengthening.
VII. Required Qualifications, Skills and Competences
For the purposes of this assignment listed in under Section III from this Term of Reference, the ideal candidate should possess the following qualifications, skills and competencies:
- Proven professional experience as a prosecutor with direct involvement in prosecuting cases of sexual violence, with particular emphasis on gender-sensitive and human rights-based approaches, ideally from Austria;
- Practical experience in working with victims of sexual violence, applying victim-centered and rights-based standards during investigation and prosecution processes;
- Experience in mentoring, training, or capacity building for legal professionals will be considered a strong asset;
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage constructively with colleagues in sensitive and complex cases;
- Previous collaboration with international organizations, civil society actors, or judicial training institutions will be considered a distinct advantage.
VIII. Application Procedure
Interested applicants are invited to submit the required documentation no later than 16 September 2025, 17:00 (CET). All documents must be submitted in English by e-mail to: hera@hera.org.mk.
The application package should include:
- Technical Offer (in .pdf format), consisting of:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) in .pdf format;
- Financial Offer in gross amount, expressed in EUR, for one online mentoring session (in .pdf format).
- Administrative and Financial Arrangements
The mentor must obtain written consent and approval from their Executive or Head of the Prosecution Office in order to participate in this assignment. Throughout the assignment period, the mentor is expected to remain available for coordination and cooperation with the project partners. As this mentorship engagement is foreseen under a dedicated budget line of the WE CARE project, the financial conditions will be fully covered in accordance with the project budget and the provisions of the European Commission.
- Ownership
All materials, documents and information prepared, developed or adjusted by the mentor and used for the purposes of preparation, delivery and reporting of the activities under this assignment shall remain the property of the European Commission and the implementing partners of the project “WE CARE – Together against sexual and gender-based violence”.
