This is not a greeting for March 8th – this is a call for responsibility

On the occasion of March 8, the Association LET STATION published a visual product (flyer) with the message “This is not a greeting card for March 8”, in order to remind that behind the symbolism of this day lies a reality that many women still face – violence, institutional indifference, and systemic failures.

The flyer is not a message of celebration, but of alarm. It is a reminder of the women who lost their lives as a result of gender-based and domestic violence, but also of those who live in fear and uncertainty every day. For the system, it was a procedure. For them – the last days! This reflects the deep difference between the formal approach of the institutions and the real, life-threatening situations of the victims.

In the first months of 2026 alone, at least 4 cases of femicide have been registered in North Macedonia. These numbers are not just statistics – they are lives lost and missed opportunities for timely protection.

The latest case in Skopje is particularly shocking, where a 31-year-old woman and her child lost their lives after a long period of domestic violence. According to available information, the institutions were aware of the violence, but no appropriate and timely protective measures were taken. This case once again raises the question: how many warnings are needed to prevent a tragedy?

Such events highlight the urgent need for a functional, coordinated and accountable protection system that will not only respond formally, but will provide real safety for victims. Violence must not be treated as an administrative procedure, but as a serious risk to life.

With this campaign, we demand accountability, timely response and essential protection. No woman should be left alone in the face of violence. No child should grow up in an environment of fear.

When institutions are late – violence waits for us.

This post was originally published on this site