Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the most widespread human rights violations globally and in North Macedonia. Despite legislative progress aligned with the Istanbul Convention, challenges in implementation persist, including weak institutional capacity, limited resources and low awareness of gender-based violence in public spaces. Women and girls continue to face harassment, restricted mobility and fear in their daily use of public areas, while urban planning and infrastructure often neglect their diverse needs.
This project addresses these systemic gaps by combining feminist research, community engagement and evidence-based advocacy to transform public spaces into inclusive, safe and accessible environments. Through community gatherings with young girls in Bitola and Tetovo, the development of a gender-sensitive methodology for assessing public spaces and advocacy at local and national levels, the initiative will amplify women’s voices, strengthen institutional accountability and push for gender-inclusive urban policies. At the same time, regional peer learning and capacity-building activities will foster collaboration among women’s CSOs across the Western Balkans, supporting a coordinated response to VAWG in public spaces.
Overall Objective (OO):
- Building safe and inclusive public spaces in North Macedonia by promoting urban planning and infrastructure improvements that prioritise the safety and security of all individuals, regardless of gender.
Specific Objectives (SO):
- SO1: Contribute to reclaiming and transforming public spaces into inclusive, accessible, and safe environments for women and girls by empowering communities, particularly women and youth, to actively engage in urban design and spatial decision-making through participatory processes that foster dialogue, democracy and social cohesion.
- SO2: Raise public awareness and understanding of GBV and VAWG in public spaces in North Macedonia across diverse population groups and stakeholders.
- SO3: Advocate for improved institutional response, proper implementation and enforcement of policies and legislation aiming at combating GBV and VAWG in public spaces, ensuring further needed alignment with international human rights standards and best practices.
- SO4: Strengthen the capacity of women’s civil society organisations across the Western Balkans to conduct gender-sensitive safety assessments and engage in evidence-based advocacy, contributing to regional knowledge exchange and coordinated anti-VAWG efforts.
The project is implemented by Reactor – Research in Action, in partnership with the Centre for Equal Opportunities Ladybug.