FYR of Macedonia/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates  

4.2.10 Gender equality and cultural policies

The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (2006) regulates the basic principles and special measures for equal opportunities for women and men, the responsibilities, tasks and obligations of the public entities etc. The main objective of the Law is to promote the principle of establishing equal opportunities for women and men in the political, economic, social, educational and other fields of social life. The Law forbids any kind of gender discrimination in the public and private sector. The agencies responsible for implementation of the principles and measures are the parliament, the government, ministries and other public offices etc.

On the other hand, the 2008 Amnesty International Report stated that there was constant gender discrimination of Roma women and young girls, who are deprived of education, work or health insurance. It is estimated that over 66% of these women can find work only in the so called "grey economy".

At the end of 2011 the government adopted the Second National Action Plan for advancement of the social status of Roma women for the period 2011 - 2013. However, representatives of the Informal Network of Roma Women Associations and Activists sent an Open Letter to the Prime Minister saying that they fear that this Action Plan will also end on several informative meetings, workshops and partial analysis and without any concrete improvement. They stressed that the advancement of the status of Roma women in Macedonia is impossible without serious planning and financial means in the state budget. They pointed out that, after 6 useless years, it is high time for the government to take full responsibility for the Roma Decade.

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