On 22–23 January 2026, judges and prosecutors from all four appellate areas in North Macedonia came together for "Firearms in the Courtroom" two-day training organized under UNODC's Project Justitia. This fifth edition in the series marked a departure from the previous four sessions, each of which had focused on a single appellate area. By bringing together participants from across the country, the mixed format encouraged cross-regional exchange and a broader perspective on firearms-related adjudication.
Organized in cooperation with the Macedonian Academy for Judges and Prosecutors, the training combined expert-led presentations with interactive group work to strengthen capacities for the detection, prosecution and adjudication of firearms-related offences, while supporting more consistent court practice across the different appellate areas.
Participants reviewed the international legal framework governing firearms control, including the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Firearms Protocol, other relevant international treaties, and the substantive EU acquis, alongside their practical incorporation in domestic legislation.
A key focus was the criminal justice response to the illicit manufacture, trafficking and possession of firearms under North Macedonia’s Criminal Code. Using UNODC’s Collection of Firearms Verdicts (Volumes I & II), participants analysed real case examples, discussing legal qualification, evidence assessment, and sentencing practices, with particular attention to common inconsistencies and how to address them.
The second day placed emphasis on the technical side of firearms cases. Through hands-on exercises facilitated by UNODC and certified instructors, participants worked in small groups to identify firearms parts and components, classify ammunition by type and markings, and discuss legal categorization under the Law on Weapons. The training also addressed emerging threats, including the criminalization of possession of technical blueprints for the 3D printing of firearms under the latest amendments to the Criminal Code, as well as the most used firearms conversion methods.
During the training, five knowledge products were distributed to participants, including two volumes of court verdicts with analysis of court practice, the Commentary on the Criminal Code, the Guideline on the Implementation of Special Investigative Measures (SIMs), and a Manual for the Identification of the Most Common Firearms.
This training contributes to Project Justitia’s broader goal of harmonizing judicial practice and strengthening institutional capacities to counter firearms trafficking across the Western Balkans. This activity is implemented with financial support provided by Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and Norway through the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund and supported by the European Union.
