94 civil society organizations say "YES" to equality, inclusion, gender equality and protection against discrimination and violence in the new concept for reforms in primary education

We, the undersigned associations, foundations and networks of the civil sector express our support for the prioritization of gender equality and protection against discrimination and violence in the draft concept for reforms in primary education. The integration of gender issues in primary education will undoubtedly affect in the long term the reduction of gender stereotypes among children and the building of an inclusive and fairer society, which for most citizens is of national interest.

Bearing in mind that numerous analyzes of primary, secondary and higher education textbooks have indicated the presence of gender stereotypes and discriminatory narratives, and in addition the complete or relative absence of certain social groups (women, persons with disabilities, ethnic others, LGBTI, etc.), we welcome the orientation of the new conception towards overcoming these major problems in the production of knowledge and skills within the educational process.

The introduction of an optional subject for sexual education, as envisaged by the new concept, will further contribute to greater awareness among young people about the equality of people, protection from violence and the reduction of discrimination. Young people will be directed more towards logical learning instead of factual, they will have the opportunity for discussion, self-reflection, drawing conclusions through interaction, teamwork and openness to other people’s stories and experiences. Hence, young people will learn to take into account other people’s as well as their own opinion and needs, they will be empathetic and open to diversity.

The results of the latest Study on health-related behaviors among school-age children from North Macedonia show that belittling, insulting and calling derogatory names with the intention of causing injury is a common behavior among students in our schools. Bullying begins at age 11 and even earlier, peaks at age 13 and tends to decline. All this affects the life and health of young people, who according to this study experience moodiness and feelings of sadness and hopelessness that increase with age, and suicidal thoughts and suicide planning are also represented and instead of decreasing, they progress with age.

In the past weeks, we have witnessed public announcements by several female actors about sexual harassment in Serbia, which once again shows that women are victims of constant gender-based violence. Unfortunately, we are encountering such examples more and more often, and this is proven by the OSCE survey from 2019, which indicates that as many as two-thirds of women from the region have suffered some kind of violence. The case of “Public Room” in Macedonia also showed us that today girls are increasingly subject to sexism and sexual harassment and that there is an urgent need for their systemic protection. It is gratifying that women today are increasingly encouraged to speak publicly about violence and harassment, but school is the right place where learning about equality and fairness between women and men and about protection from sexual violence should be further stimulated.

The most threatened by gender inequalities are easily recognizable in the vulnerable, the powerless, and those who are deprived of their freedoms and rights. Most often, these are women, girls, the poor, the diverse and gender atypical, but many others, are hidden under the veil of all other kinds of inequalities. That’s why we think it’s important, in addition to looking for responsibility in the perpetrators, to look more broadly at the socio-political and cultural conditions of the community, society and education in which inequality is created and persists.

Learning and accepting gender identities will enable better integration of all students with all their differences, and thus a reduction of gender-based violence and bullying in schools. Children and vulnerable groups of young people need a safe environment at school, where everyone feels protected and equally cared for regardless of their diversity.

Learning about ethnic differences and their acceptance in conditions of increased diversity in society, as well as encouraging interculturalism will contribute to the promotion of equality and integration of children from different cultures, ethnicities and identities. Overcoming and respecting ethnic differences is important when we talk about inclusion in the educational process, and it is especially important for reducing violence between students, which in the past few years has seen an increase in cases that are based on the ethnicity of the students.

Despite the fact that the new conception of primary education emphasizes the principles of gender equality and protection against discrimination, we also propose the following:

1. Establishing a national gender education mechanism under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science that will monitor and approve the curricula and textbooks that will be used in education to guarantee the principles of equality and protection against discrimination and hate speech in terms of gender, sex and gender identity;
2. Creation of a mandatory system of education and career development of teachers in advancing their competencies on gender issues, equality and non-discrimination through teacher training programs within the Bureau for the Advancement of Education;
3. Following the recommendations of UNESCO in the preparation of curricula and contents for comprehensive sexual education, which is proposed as a free elective subject in primary education, and as an extension of already acquired knowledge within the framework of existing regular teaching contents. Following European and global good practices and scientific standards are a kind of guarantee to ensure that issues of gender equality, protection from discrimination and gender-based violence are based on human rights principles and not on wrong backward gender or populist ideologies;
4. Unification of the practices of collecting data on violence in schools at the national level under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science, and in cooperation with the City of Skopje and the education departments of the municipalities (ZELS);
5. Encouraging interculturalism, overcoming, and accepting ethnic diversity in order to reduce peer violence and integration of all students within the curriculum for primary education.

Signatories:

1. Platform for Gender Equality
2. Network for protection against discrimination
3. Voice against violence – National network against violence against women and domestic violence
4. Platform for the sustainability of HIV prevention and support services
5. Macedonian platform against poverty
6. National Network against Homophobia and Transphobia
7. Coalition of Youth Organizations NOW
8. HERA – Association for Health Education and Research
9. Coalition Margins
10. Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
11. YEF – Youth Educational Forum
12. FOSM – Foundation Open Society Macedonia
13. HOPS – Options for a healthy life Skopje
14. Action “Zdruzhenska”
15. Stella network
16. Reactor – Research in action
17. NSRR – National Council for Gender Equality in Cooperation
18. “Majka” Humanitarian Association from Kumanovo
19. Association of citizens for the promotion of women’s activity Tiiiit! Inc.
20. Women’s forum Tetovo
21. Women’s organization of the municipality of Sveti Nikole
22. SUBVERSIVE FRONT
23. RSM TransformA
24. LGBTI Support Center
25. Association for cultural and media activism QUEER SQUARE Skopje
26. LEZFEM
27. Equalis
28. Society for the Support and Development of Humanity
29. SOS Children’s Village North Macedonia
30. Association of Multi-Ethnic Society for Human Rights, Shtip
31. Bela Vista – Institute for Sustainable Rural and Regional Development
32. Sumnal – the association for the development of the Roma community
33. ADRR Sun – Tetovo
34. Association Global
35. The Foundation for Debate and Education IDEA Southeast Europe
36. KHAM – Delchevo
37. Romano Chachipe – Association for the development and promotion of the Roma community
38. NRC – National Roma Center
39. Association Center for Educational Support Dendo Vas from Skopje.
40. IRIZ – Community Development and Inclusion Initiative
41. Romalitiko – Institute for Research and Policy Analysis
42. Association of educators and protection of rights of Roma women and children LIL
43. Roma Association for Women and Youth “LULUDI”
44. Umbrella – Center for Integration
45. Station P.E.T.
46. Vision Kavadarci
47. Organization of women – Veles
48. Organization of women – Skopje
49. Cortex Tetovo
50. NGO info center
51. Macedonian Association of Young Lawyers
52. Tact
53. Association for Gender Equality – Edna Moze
54. Women’s Action – Radovish
55. Crisis Center – Hope
56. Women’s civic initiative “KLEA”, Bitola
57. The association for support of people living with HIV – ZAEDNO POSILNI Skopje
58. Association EGAL – Equality for gays and lesbians, Skopje
59. Association for support of marginalized workers – STAR-STAR, Skopje
60. Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia
61. Option Ohrid, Ohrid
62. Zone, Kavadarci
63. HELP – Gostivar
64. Youth club – Stip
65. Association for counseling, treatment, reintegration and resocialization of persons addicted to psychoactive substances – Izbor, Strumica
66. Association for healthy lifestyles PULS – Kumanovo
67. Center for the development of civil society Via Vita – Bitola
68. Trust Association – Skopje
69. IHR– Institute for Human Rights
70. Organization of women from Strumica
71. JADRO – Association of the independent cultural scene
72. KSP Center – Core
73. Association – Project space press to exit
74. Locomotive – Center for new initiatives in art and culture
75. Association for Literature, Culture and Art – Galikul
76. Association of Artists Cultural Center Media Artes – Ohrid
77. Association of Public Servants of North Macedonia
78. ZMAI – Association for Research and Analysis
79. Rural Coalition
80. Association Faculty of Non-Teaching Affairs
81. National Association for Continuous Sustainable Development and Democracy – KORD Skopje
82. Center for Social Initiatives Nadezh – Skopje
83. Women’s civic initiative ANTICO
84. Organization of women of the city of Skopje
85. The Coalition All for Fair Trials
86. Center for Legal Research and Analysis
87. Center for Intercultural Dialogue – CID Kumanovo
88. Research and Analysis Center NOVUS Strumica
89. Center for Youth Actinism – Creek
90. Foundation for local development and democracy Focus – Veles
91. Association of Creative Youth
92. Sky Plus Strumica
93. EHO educational humanitarian organization
94. G. NEXUS Civic Concept – Skopje

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