Policies | Gender Equality Plan

The Republic of North Macedonia is a small landlocked country with around 2 million inhabitants and is a candidate country, which aspires to become a member of the European Union. According to data from the State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia, the percentage representation of women and men in the total population is almost equal, i.e. 49.9% of the population are women, while 50.1% are men.

The Republic of North Macedonia regulates the national system by establishing equal opportunities for women and men, with the rights and obligations to ensure such equality, i.e. it is the national legislation and the structures for support and promotion, in which at different levels, equal opportunities between women and men have already been established. The main law regulating gender equality in the Republic of North Macedonia is The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, and the main institution responsible for the implementation of this policy is the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, which is working on the development of a new National Strategy for Gender Equality for the period 2021-2026.

In 2011, the Republic of North Macedonia signed The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women (Istanbul Convention) and ratified it at the end of 2017. The Republic of North Macedonia has also developed a National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Istanbul Convention (2018-2023).

In 2019, the Republic of North Macedonia published its own gender equality index with a score of 62 points. According to the analysis of European Institute for Gender Equality The Republic of North Macedonia is slightly below the European Union average of 67.4 points. This places the country in 16th place compared to EU countries. In the domain of power, the country performs better than the European Union. The Republic of North Macedonia has 52.6 points, compared to the EU average of 51.9. However, significant gender inequalities remain, especially when it comes to income and earnings, as well as the sharing of household responsibilities.

The St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje is the largest and oldest state university in the Republic of North Macedonia, funded by the state and founded in 1949. Today, the University is a functional community of twenty-three faculties, five research institutes and twelve associated institutions. The University is the main research provider in the country and brings with it extensive expertise from participation in European projects. The activities of the University are prescribed by the Law on Higher Education and the Statute of the University.

Articles 16-21 of the Statute of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje already regulate and guarantee equality, non-discrimination and inclusiveness.  In these articles protection from discrimination is provided, and guarantees for equal opportunities for women and men at the University as well. The Strategy of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje 2019-2023 provides for the Principle of Equality in Teaching and Scientific Activity and, together with the Principle of Responsibility and Compliance with the Highest Possible Standards, encourages active cooperation of the University with higher education, scientific and other related institutions in other countries.