“Together We Are Stronger” 💪— This was the title of the national conference organised in North Macedonia 🇲🇰 by our partner organisation Association of Persons with Cerebral Palsy and other Disabilities from Veles. The conference, as supported by Kvinna till Kvinna and Sweden, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of women and girls with disabilities. The aim was to raise awareness and bring to attention the everyday challenges of women and girls with disabilities, but also to secure systemic commitments by relevant authorities to improve their position in society and their overall situation.
➡Conference participants were addressed by the President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova; the Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Fatmir Limani; the EU Ambassador to North Macedonia, Michalis Rokas; and the Ambassador of Sweden to North Macedonia, Ami Larsson Jain. They used the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to helping strengthen the position of marginalised groups, especially women and girls with disabilities. See parts of their addresses 👇
“Persons with disabilities are high on my agenda.” — President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova
“This is an opportunity for policymakers, institutions, and local governments to assess whether our policies truly benefit people on the ground and help resolve the challenges faced by vulnerable groups.” — Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Fatmir Limani
“Persons with disabilities are perhaps one of the largest minorities in the world. Women with disabilities face multiple barriers, including stigmatisation, exclusion, isolation, outdated perceptions, and other obstacles, making the issue even more complex.” — Ambassador of Sweden to North Macedonia, Ami Larsson Jain
“It is necessary to establish laws and mechanisms that protect and support women’s rights, including those with disabilities. Building a more inclusive society requires investing in accessible infrastructure, ensuring equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and social services, and empowering women to participate in decision-making at all levels. No woman or girl with a disability, especially those from rural areas, should be left behind.” — EU Ambassador to North Macedonia, Michalis Rokas
Embassy of Sweden in Skopje
Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia
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