From 13.11 to 18.11.2023, the “Advocacy Week” was held in Brussels, during which women’s organizations from the Western Balkans present the challenges they face in their work and talk about the situation with gender equality and gender-based violence in their countries. Representatives from women’s organizations from 6 countries in the Western Balkans (North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania) took part in this year’s Advocacy Week.
Taking into account the statistics, analyzes and reports on the situation of women and girls victims of GBV and DV, as well as the findings of the progress report of North Macedonia in the implementation of the activities foreseen in the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, Ana Avramoska Nushkova from the National Network represented North Macedonia in front of MEPs, rapporteurs for the EU, as well as other relevant stakeholders whose work contributes to the improvement of women’s rights and gender equality in the EU accession processes. One of the organized work meetings was with Frederik Svinen, from the Political Bureau for North Macedonia, Victor Tilea, Rule of Law Officer for North Macedonia and Eviola Prifti, Political Coordinator, North Macedonia who work in the General Directorate for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, and are responsible for monitoring the situation in North Macedonia. At the meeting, the situation in the country was presented in relation to the various aspects related to gender equality, women’s rights and gender-based violence.
On November 16th an event was held where the main findings of the Report on Women’s Rights in the Western Balkans were presented in the European Parliament, and the event was hosted by MEP Alessandra Moretti, from the Delegation to the Parliamentary Committee for Stabilization and Association between the EU and Serbia.
This activity is supported by supported by the Swedish Foundation Kvinna till Kvinna.