Северная Македония

The Government established a working group to propose amendments to the Criminal Code through a wide process of consultations. In co-operation with the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, ODIHR provided legislative assistance to help ensure compliance of legislation with international standards and OSCE commitments. The Criminal Code was amended by adding a new aggravating-circumstances provision to Article 39 that covers the grounds of “national or social background, political or religious affiliation, property or social status, gender, race or colour of skin”. Article 319(1) prescribes punishment for, among other acts, “mistreatment…of national, ethnic or religious symbols, by damaging other people's objects, and by desecration of monuments, graves”.