THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

A UNICEF report published in 2010 states that 72% of children aged 2-14 experienced violent discipline (physical punishment and/or psychological aggression) in 2005-2006. Nearly six in ten experienced physical punishment, while a much smaller percentage (7%) of mothers and caregivers thought that physical punishment was necessary in childrearing, and non-violent discipline was also widely used: experienced by 90% of children. More than one child in seven experienced severe physical punishment (being hit or slapped on the face, head or ears or being hit over and over with an implement) and 61% experienced psychological aggression (being shouted at, yelled at, screamed at or insulted). Boys were slightly more likely than girls to experience violent discipline: 77% compared to 68%. No significant differences in children’s experience of violent discipline were found according to age, household size, level of education of adults in the household or engagement in child labour. 

(UNICEF, 2010, Child Disciplinary Practices at Home: Evidence from a Range of Low- and Middle-Income Countries, NY: UNICEF)

According to statistics from UNICEF on violence in the family, in 2005-2006, twelve per cent of disabled children aged 2-9 were hit or slapped on the face, head or ears or hit over and over as hard as possible with an implement, compared to 20% of non-disabled children. Twenty-one per cent of girls and women aged 15-49 thought that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife under certain circumstances.

(UNICEF, 2009,  Progress for Children: A report card on child protection, NY: UNICEF)

A 2009 report by the office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia found that corporal punishment was very common in institutions. Fifty-three children living in three institutions took part in the research. Of these, 21% said physical violence occured often in institutions and 21% said it occured rarely. Seventeen per cent said they were often psychologically abused, and 11% rarely. Only about half of the children had never experienced physical violence, and half had never experienced psychological violence. Children were afraid to report experiencing corporal punishment, and also did not know where to report it.

(First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi, 2009, Overview of the situation of children in institutions in Republic of Macedonia, www.childrensembassy.org.mk)

65.3% of respondents to a 2009 survey of 662 adults believed that corporal punishment should never be used. This was a significant increase compared to an identical 2005 survey of 519 adults, when 42.8% said that corporal punishment should never be used. 1.5% of respondents in 2009 said that corporal punishment was acceptable “if the parent believes that it will be effective”, compared to 14.5% in 2005. The studies in 2005 and 2009 also examined adults’ perceptions of the prevalence of corporal punishment. 

(BRIMA, 2009,  Overview of the perception about the corporal punishment of the children in Republic of Macedonia and comparative analysis between the research results from 2005 and 2009 year
www.canee.net/files/Omnibus research Macedonia 2009.pdf)
Part of  the Childhood Without Abuse project, which includes studies carried out in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine in 2005 and 2009.
www.canee.net/bulgaria/research_on_the_problem_of_child_abuse_in_eastern_europe 

A 2009 survey of 208 teachers in primary schools in Skopje found that 73% belived that corporal punishment is humiliating for the child and 70% believed that it meant that “the parents are not good at rearing children”. 68% of respondents felt that the use of “spanking” as a punishment would justify intervention by a third party. In an identical survey of a similar sample in 2005, 62% believed this. On average, respondents in 2009 estimated that 30% of children in Macedonia experience spanking as punishment, compared to an average estimate of 52% in 2005.

(Nobody’s Children Foundation et al, 2009, Skopje teachers’ attitudes toward child abuse
www.canee.net/files/Teachers studies Macedonia 2009.pdf)
Part of  the Childhood Without Abuse project, which includes studies carried out in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine in 2005 and 2009.
www.canee.net/bulgaria/research_on_the_problem_of_child_abuse_in_eastern_europe 

According to statistics from UNICEF on violence in the family, 69% of children aged 2-14 experienced physical punishment and/or psychological aggression in 2005-2006: 42% experienced physical punishment and psychological aggression, 15% experienced psychological aggression only and 12% experienced physical punishment only. In total, 54% of children experienced physical punishment, while only 7% of mothers and caregivers believe that physical punishment is necessary in childrearing. 12% of disabled children aged 2-9 were hit on the face, head or ears, hit repeatedly or hit hard, 20% of non-disabled children. Of girls and women aged 15-49, 21% think that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife under certain circumstances.

(UNICEF, 2009,  Progress for Children: A report card on child protection, NY: UNICEF
www.childinfo.org/files/Progress_for_Children-No.8_EN.pdf) 

The First Children’s Embassy in the world-Megjashi, carried out research on children’s rights, discrimination and violence in 2009, involving over 2,200 students. According to the report, 56% of children named hitting/beating as a form of violence that happens in schools, and 57% said they knew a child who had been beaten by a teacher or headteacher, including slapping (63%), caning (34%), and kicking (15%).

(First Children’s Embassy in the world-Megjashi, 2009, Perception of Children’s Rights, Discrimination and Children’s Exposure to Violence
www.childrensembassy.org.mk)