Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jagoda Shahpaska delivered remarks at the Generation Equality Forum – an event jointly organised by UN Women, the governments of Mexico and France, civil society, and youth – taking place online in Mexico City from 29-31 March.
“Women health, rights, opportunities and access to healthcare are in the focus of sexual and reproductive rights. With the latest amendments to the law on termination of pregnancy, a woman has the right to reproductive freedom to decide for her own body whether, when and how many children will give birth to,” Shahpaska said in her address.
Shahpaska said that the concept of the government of the Republic of North Macedonia “One Society for All” implies that women and men should have equal rights to human, social, economic and cultural development. This concept, she added, makes us leaders in the region.
“Healthcare system has a duty to respond appropriately in quality manner in accordance to the up-to-date standards of evidence-based medicine. Therefore, with introduction of medical abortion we are keeping pace with European practices and protocols,” she added.
She said that preventive programmes allow early detection of changes in reproductive organs of women, early diagnosis in a high percentage of successful treatment. Moreover, this generates savings of serious financial means since having successfully undergo treatment, women are able to return to labour market.
“New therapies for breast cancer have been introduced and every woman have timely access to them. Free orthopedic brassieres for women that have undergo surgery are also provided. The most advanced technology for early-stage breast cancer screening has been introduced with accurate and precise diagnosis which is of crucial importance for further treatment of patients,” she said.
“As regards the field of education, we have prepared a three-year action plan for piloting comprehensive sex education. Educational models for the implementation in the education system have been developed and curricula for student age 13 to 15 years have been prepared in addition to the teacher’s handbook for the implementation of the pilot project for comprehensive sex education,” she underlined.
“The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is currently working on developing the new strategy for gender equality 2021-2026. The draft version of the new law on gender equality is ready and as follow up we will open wide debate in the society with a sole objective of establishing an efficient gender equality system,” she noted.
Shahpaska stressed that the Republic of North Macedonia will continue to work on promoting human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights of women as a prerequisite for a society founded on democratic principles
Since Nov. 2020, the Republic of North Macedonia is part of Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and its representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Health, actively participated in the preparation of the coalition’s vision and actions.
The goal of the Generation Equality Forum Mexico City is to generate urgent action and accountability on gender equality, spotlighting the power of women’s rights activism, feminist solidarity and the leadership of the youth to achieve transformative change.
The Forum in Mexico City will review progress since then and shape a programme of concrete measures to advance gender equality between now and 2030. The Forum will culminate in Paris (France) from 30 June – 2 July 2021.
