The meeting provided an opportunity for co-operation projects and beneficiaries from Kosovo* and North Macedonia working with gender equality topics to share experiences across sectors and thematic areas. Frank Power, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina, in his opening speech highlighted the importance of gender mainstreaming in co-operation projects: “I am very happy that our office is able to host this exchange of experience and best practice between beneficiaries from Pristina and Skopje, across different projects, particularly given that we will shortly celebrate International Women’s Day. Gender equality is, of course, a priority that cuts through all Council of Europe activities, and events like today’s help to ensure that gender mainstreaming remains a central element in all our cooperation projects”.
The importance of regional exchange was also brought up by Elena Grozdanova, State Advisor on Equal Opportunities in the Ministry for Labour and Social Policy in North-Macedonia “Regional cooperation and exchange of good practices is an important factor for success in achieving gender equality”.
The Regional Gender Advisor, Arezo Banafsheh coordinating the process of gender mainstreaming in the framework of the Council of Europe activities in South-East Europe, pointed towards the importance of an inclusive and gender sensitive approach to ensure sustainability and protection of human rights in projects and activities.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Kosovo* Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Agency for Gender Equality, Office for Good Governance, Ombudsperson and the Ministry for Labour and Social Policy from North Macedonia.
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*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.