Social Policy Minister, Dime Spasov

Macedonian Social Policy Minister Dime Spasov says the government has submitted its proposed changes to parliament and expects them to be adopted.

“Medical-pharmacological measures [chemical castration] will be carried out in specialized facilities every six months following release from jail [of the offender],” Spasov said.

Chemical castration is administration of medications designed to reduce the libido and sexual activity in general.

Under the changes, first-time offenders can opt for chemical treatment in exchange for a reduced jail term.

Repeat offenders will be automatically subjected to chemical castration.

For milder sexual abuse of minors below 14, the predicted minimal jail sentence increases from eight to 12 years.

For graver sexual offences, the minimum jail term will increase from 10 to 15 years. The maximum sentence remains life in prison.

An NGO, the First Children’s Embassy – Megjashi, has long since advocated chemical chastration to curb the trend of crime-repeaters.

“We welcome these changes, which will boost protection of children,” Dragi Zmijanac, the head of Megjashi, said.

“However, we think chemical castration should be obligatory [for all paedophiles],” Zmijanac added.

One of the latest countries to introduce chemical castration was Russia. Other countries that have done so already include Denmark, Britain, Poland and South Korea.

Last June, Macedonia published an online register of convicted paedophiles who have been released, containing their pictures, names and addresses.

The Ministry of Social Affairs said it was designed to increase children’s safety.

Macedonia was the first country in the region to publish such a register, based on the example of several US states.

Some human rights watchdogs have condemned the move, saying it will encourage people to take the law into their own hands.

Justice Ministry records show that from 2004 to 2009 Macedonian courts convicted 231 people for sexual abuse of children and minors.

Of these, 38 had repeated the crime after previously serving time in jail.