Stories
Gender assessments in Europe and Central Asia reveal pandemic’s devastating impact on women
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
A survey to assess the gendered impacts of COVID-19 on women’s and men’s lives and livelihoods in ten countries/territories across Europe and Central Asia has revealed dire findings.
From where I stand: “The COVID-19 crisis has completely changed my life”
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Red Cross employee Marijana Tosheva works tirelessly to assist the most vulnerable in North Macedonia. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, she’s been supporting the people with disabilities.
I am Generation Equality: Teodora Mileska, champion of sexual and reproductive health and rights
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Billions of people across the world stand on the right side of history every day. They speak up, take a stand, mobilize, and take big and small actions to advance women’s rights. This is Generation Equality. Teodora Mileska is a student of International and intercultural studies in North Macedonia and an aspiring diplomat for peaceful conflict resolution. She is a senior peer educator for Comprehensive Sexual Education and a concept writer for radio show Seksi Maalo that advocates for sexual and reproductive health rights.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Across eastern Europe social support services have not been very inclusive, whether it be because of armed conflict, local decision-making or simply dangerous, unsafe neighborhoods. Now, people are calling for better infrastructure, safer cities and urban planning.
In the words of Ana Vasileva: “We are talking the talk and walking the walk”
Monday, February 26, 2018
Ana Vasileva is a women’s rights activist and a member of the feminist collective, Fight Like a Woman, living and working in Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic (fYR) of Macedonia. She has also contributed to UN Women’s “Not only on March 8th” initiative, which makes a point that gender equality issues should not be in the limelight only once a year, on International Women’s Day, but should be publicly debated consistently.
Across the Western Balkans, rural women are influencing local budgets and shaping progress
Friday, October 13, 2017
Across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Moldova, UN Women works with governments to implement gender equality commitments and enhance women’s participation in decision-making. Funded by the Austrian Development Agency and Swiss Development Cooperation, the programme enables women to influence local budgets to address their diverse needs.
In the words of Elena Kochoska: "Women bear a double burden because of their gender and disability”
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Elena Kochoska is a vocal advocate for persons with disabilities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and works at the local organization, Polio Plus, Movement Against Disability. She participated in training and mentoring sessions on gender-responsive budgeting (GRB)—analyzing a budget to ensure women’s needs are met—organized by UN Women’s regional programme on GRB, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Austrian Development Agency. Thereafter, she prepared a report that did a cost-benefit analysis showing the benefits of including children with disabilities in mainstream education.
Monday, July 10, 2017
UN Women and the EU will aim to reform policies in line with international standards, transfrom dicriminatory social norms and empower women and girls subjected to violence.
Trapped in transit, women refugees of Vinojug await a future
Thursday, October 6, 2016
UN Women, in partnership with Oxfam, is providing support services to women migrants and refugees in two transit centres—Vinojug, at the southern border with Greece and Tabanovce, on the northern border with Serbia. While assisting women refugees and migrants, UN Women is also documenting and disseminating their stories, to inform policies and raise awareness about the specific threats and risks that they face, and to advocate for their rights.
From where I stand: Lenche Zdravkin
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Lenche Zdravkin is a legend in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for her work with the refugees. Her home in Veles is located just across the railway track, which thousands of refugees traversed at the beginning of the crisis, trying to reach a safe haven in Europe. Ms. Zdravkin helps refugees and migrants when they stop at her house by the railroad, providing food, water, clothes and other necessities.
From Where I Stand: Sonja Dimitrijoska
Monday, May 16, 2016
As women migrants and civil society organizations meet in Istanbul for the "Women on the Move Conference", we highlight the story of Sonja Dimitrijoska, a humanitarian aid worker who helps support women and girl refugees in transit centres in the Western Balkans.
UN Women assesses the needs of women migrants and refugees in Serbia and fYR Macedonia
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Despite gender-sensitive good practices, a UN Women assessment found that response-planning, services, protection capacity and information are not yet sufficient to meet the needs of migrant women and girls in Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Around the world, women and men of all ages “orange their hoods” to end violence
Thursday, December 11, 2014
From flash mobs to bicycle races, street marches to art exhibits, and even illuminating landmarks and buildings in orange light, people around the world banded together during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence by “oranging their neighbourhoods.”
New law spurs action, bringing protection to many
Friday, October 31, 2014
A new law against domestic violence adopted in August in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, coupled with efforts to promote the Istanbul Convention are giving new hope to survivors.
Balkan women make inroads in peace and politics
Friday, October 24, 2014
With support from UN Women, women leaders in the Balkans are putting gender issues at the centre of politics and fueling women’s empowerment in order to bring peace and stability to the region.
Football unites President of Bolivia, diplomats and top officials to End Violence against Women
Thursday, September 26, 2013
President of Bolivia Evo Morales, top officials and ambassadors to the UN took time out during the General Assembly today to play a football match to support the Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women.
Presentation by Michelle Bachelet and Julia Duncan Cassell at a side event on the COMMIT Initiative
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Presentation by Michelle Bachelet and Julia Duncan-Cassell at the high-level side event on the COMMIT Initiative, 5 March, 2013, in New York.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has taken a vital step towards gender equality by adopting its first strategy on gender-responsive budgeting (GRB).