On September 21st , 2023, a work meeting was held for women MPs from the Assembly of R. North Macedonia where the findings of the Shadow Report on Chapters 7 and 8 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) were presented. 20 female MPs from the current parliamentary composition participated in the meeting.
The National Network team presented the findings of the draft Shadow Report, as well as the recommendations that were proposed at the workshop with civil society organizations (September 15th, 2023).
The presentation was followed by a constructive discussion where the participants shared their perceptions of violence against women in politics, as well as in general regarding women in public and political life. The MPs emphasized that women politicians are the ones who should serve as an example of democratic behaviour, because male politicians do not do this sufficiently. In that way, good examples will be set and prejudices against women in leadership positions will be reduced. They agreed that certain small steps have been taken towards greater representation of women in political life, but it is not enough. Citizens must also be included in democracy, especially local women whose voice should be heard.
Women MPs emphasized that the number of women must be increased at all levels of public and political life. This is especially important due to the fact that few women are easier to “attack”, which is still happening now. In that way, they are exposed to violence, but also to the devaluing of their work just because they are women.
The shadow report can be viewed at this link.
This activity was carried out within the project “Preparation of a Shadow Report on the implementation of CEDAW in the Republic of North Macedonia”, supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
