There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in North Macedonia during the year, the US State Department’s 2024 Human Rights Report on the country says.
“Significant human rights issues included credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including violence and threats of violence against journalists. The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses”, it is nonetheless added.
The changes enabling governmental ads are noted as well.
“On 28 February, the government amended the Law on Audiovisual Media Services to allow government-paid ‘high public interest’ campaigns to be advertised through commercial broadcasters. Independent media associations expressed apprehension concerning the amendments and criticised the law as a return to widespread media corruption and clientelism”, the Report points out.