The CEDAW Regional Compliance Report and the Istanbul Convention is one of the activities in the project “Unification of Voices to End Violence Against Women” implemented by the Roma Women’s Center Bibia and UN Women during the period from July 10, 2018 to September 30, 2019. The project is part of the EU / UN Women regional program to end violence against women in the Western Balkans and
Turkey, “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”. The project focuses on uniting women’s voices, national and local civil society organizations, experts, human rights defenders, activists, NGOs and national organizations working on Roma
and gender issues, as well as the issue of prevention and protection of women against violence.
The overall goal of the project is to contribute to the development of targeted measures to reduce multiple interrelated inequalities, discrimination and violence against Roma women, as well as to strengthen the voices of Roma women who should be involved in, reporting on and advocating for the implementation of the Convention. of the Council of Europe on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

In Northern Macedonia, the Law on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women defines discrimination as any gender differentiation, abuse or restriction that endangers or impedes the enjoyment of human rights and freedoms. Indirect discrimination based on, inter alia, gender, race and skin color is prohibited.

Is and to what extent is it complied with and to what extent is it in line with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), which refer to discrimination against Roma women in the field of health care, child marriage and offering support and protection to Roma women in cases of family
violence can be found in the Regional Report,

The report was prepared with the participation of several organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Otharin” from Bijeljina, Women’s Association “Maja” from Kravica, Women’s Association “Roma Women” from Bijeljina, Women’s Association “Roma Dzhevojka” from Prnjavor, “Zemlja dzece” “From Tuzla,” Be my friend “from Visoko and CPP” Senzus “from Mostar;
Montenegro – “Montenegrin Women’s Lobby” from Podgorica, “Center for Roma Initiative” from Niksic, “Mladiinfo Montenegro” from Podgorica, “Women’s RE”.
network PRVA “from Podgorica and” Club Kultura “from Bijelo Polje;

Serbia – “Roma Women’s Center Bibija” from Belgrade, “UG Femplat” from Pancevo, “Most 014” from Valjevo, “Praxis” from Belgrade, “Romani Tsikna” from Krusevac, “Ternipe” from Pirot, “Victimological Society of Serbia” from Belgrade; “Women’s Roma Center” by Veliki Crljeni, “Women’s Proctor” by Nis.

Northern Macedonia – “Organization of Life from the Municipality of Sveti Nikole,” Crisis Center Hope “from Skopje,” Journalists for Human Rights “from Skopje,
“Terno Vas” from Berovo, “Women’s Initiative from Suto Orizari”, “Klea” and “Roma Association for Women and Young LULUDI” from Skopje.

Author of the Regional Report: Kosana Becker
Authors of national reports: Daniela Antonovska MA Northern Macedonia, Mirjana Vlahovih Andrijasevic (Montenegro), Milena Juric (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Tijana Milosevic (Serbia).