Within the framework of the Gender Equality Platform, by gender equality we mean a concept, a feminist ideal, a striving and a dream for constantly (re)thinking and challenging social systems of power, towards the redistribution of it, as well as the redistribution of resources and knowledge, towards collective liberation, which implies freedom for me, but also for the other(s), taking into account the circumstances in which we are born and grow up, and finally what it means for life on planet earth to be possible at all.
We, as members of the Platform for Gender Equality, act in the interests of girls, women and gender minorities in all their diversity, especially those who are most vulnerable to gender barriers in society, such as: women victims of violence, women from rural areas, women workers and victims of exploitative working conditions, women with disabilities, sex workers, transgender women, lesbian and bisexual women, women from all ethnic minorities, as well as women’s rights defenders.
Gender equality includes the right to be different. This means taking into account the existing differences between women and men, which are related to sex, gender identity, class, political opinion, religion, ethnicity, race or sexual orientation.
As organizations and activists who are in constant contact with oppressive patriarchal forces and oppression, often targeted, exhausted and discouraged by such malignant currents, we commit to creating an environment in the Platform that is safe for our members and to creating relationships among ourselves that are based on respect, support, solidarity, care and the opportunity to learn from each other.
Using the struggle for gender equality as a tool, a carrier of the possibility of bringing positive change and collective liberation from gender stereotypes and prejudices, we advocate the following values:
Feminism – A supranational, political and social movement for social transformation that aims to create a world in which there are no restrictions based on gender and gender identity.
Inclusivity – Encouraging inclusion, cooperation, trust and respect through our actions as well as opposing discrimination and exclusion in any form.
Solidarity – mutual connection and mutual responsibility through showing support, togetherness and understanding in the struggle for gender equality, against intersectional discrimination.
Intersectionality – in the context of the Platform for Gender Equality, intersectionality is a principle of justice, solidarity and collective responsibility that recognizes that oppression and privilege are not singular, but rather intertwined experiences shaped by multiple identities—sex, gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, disability, ethnicity and other social factors. As a value, intersectionality requires a critical reexamination of systems of power and the creation of spaces for those who have been historically oppressed. It places the focus on collective liberation rather than individual success, builds alliances across differences and encourages transformative policies that enable equality, justice and dignified lives for all. Intersectionality is not just an analytical framework, but an ethical commitment to a world without domination, where the complexity of all struggles and identities is recognized and respected.
Networking – as a political act of solidarity and mutual support that transcends traditional hierarchies of power. It is the creation of spaces of connection, exchange and collective care that challenge the dominance of patriarchy, capitalism and structural discrimination. True networking is a radical act of alliance building that enables autonomy, amplifies marginalized voices and fosters transformative change for a society based on justice, equality and liberation.
Sharing – the sharing of resources, ideas and skills in order to enable better conditions and conditions for all in the community, through joint participation in its creation. Sharing can be a creative and inclusive process that strengthens the sense of belonging and unity among people in the community.
Empathy – Listening, understanding, compassion and taking into account different experiences, concerns and needs and ensuring an appropriate response.
Integrity – Honesty, professionalism, accountability and transparency in order to bring about the changes needed to achieve justice.
Bodily Autonomy – My Body – My Choice! Almost half of women in 57 developing countries are denied the right to decide whether to seek health care, whether to have sexual relations with their partner(s) or to use contraception. Bodily autonomy ensures that women and girls have control over their bodies, and are thus encouraged to make autonomous decisions for themselves. They gain not only in terms of autonomy, but also through advances in health and education, income and security.
Social justice understood as the ongoing struggle to dismantle systemic and economic oppression while redistributing power, resources and recognition equitably across all identities and experiences. That struggle is rooted in intersectionality, feminism and sexual liberation, which challenges hetero-patriarchy, hegemony, capitalism and all forms of exclusion. Social justice imagines a world where autonomy, collective care and radical solidarity replace structures of domination, ensuring that historically marginalised voices lead the transformation towards dignity, equality and freedom for all.
Anti-nationalism is the outright rejection of the oppressive structures of domination of the nation-state, recognising how nationalism reinforces borders, militarism, patriarchy and exclusionary identities. Anti-nationalism challenges the ways in which nationalism exploits sex, gender, ethnicity, national identity, sexuality, and class to support hierarchies of power. It is a commitment to transnational solidarity, collective liberation, and a world beyond the violence of states and borders—a world where belonging is defined by care, mutual aid, and justice, rather than by imposed identities and exclusion.
Non-discrimination is a fundamental legal and ethical principle that guarantees equal treatment and protection from unfair treatment on the basis of sex, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, socioeconomic status, and other grounds. Non-discrimination is not limited to formal equality of opportunity, but involves proactive measures to dismantle structural inequality and eliminate the historical and systemic barriers that keep marginalized communities in a subordinate position.
GOALS
- Harmonized, coherent and implemented legislation and policy in the function of gender equality.
- Sufficient and appropriately distributed financial and other resources for the implementation of laws and policies provided.
- Functional, effective and efficient gender machinery at the national and local levels.
- Developed system for advocating gender equality before the bodies at the regional, central and local levels.
- Raising awareness regarding the existing stigmatization and marginalization of women and girls in the public discourse.
- Generated expertise in the function of strengthening internal and external capacities, for the promotion of gender equality.
- Active efforts for reproductive health and sexual freedom through Comprehensive Sexuality Education.
- Despite the specificity and diversity in our work, we are committed to protecting the rights of all women, without an exclusionary approach. If each of us is not free, then none of us is free.
- We strongly oppose the involvement of individuals and groups in activities, granting them legitimacy, public support, cooperation or institutional negotiation that is not in the benefit of the above groups.
- This value document, which represents a roadmap for our work, is of essential importance for the kind of relations we will build among ourselves, but also how we will position the work of the Platform more broadly in Macedonian society. Any violation of any of the above points will result in the exclusion of members from the Platform.
