Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Commend North Macedonia on Ratifying International Conventions, Ask about Corporal Punishment and Roma Children
The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the combined third to sixth periodic report of North Macedonia under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Committee commended the State on ratifying important international conventions, while asking questions on corporal punishment and Roma children.
Bragi Gudbrandsson, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, congratulated North Macedonia on ratifying important international conventions, including the Istanbul Convention. Mr. Gudbrandsson also commended North Macedonia for banning all forms of corporal punishment; however, in practice, this punishment was widely used by parents, which was concerning. The programmes addressing this needed to be implemented nationwide. Were there plans to increase the resources for these important programmes?
The delegation said that corporal punishment was strictly prohibited in family situations. Due to the higher rates of corporal violence, the State, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, had launched a positive campaign on good parenting practices, to enable parents to be educated in ways to adequately bring up their children. Laws and reforms would continue to be introduced which improved the rights of children within the family.
A Committee Expert asked about the measures adopted to eradicate discrimination against Roma children? What mechanisms were there to gauge the efficiency of the programmes in place? The Expert noted the dropout rates of girls from schools in the Roma community. Were there any specific programmes to prevent this?
The delegation said that Roma children were entitled to education, and significant efforts were being invested to prevent discrimination of this group in the education system at all levels. Roma educational mediators represented the bridge between the professional services and the Roma community, and were working actively in the field. The number of these mediators was being increased.
In opening remarks, Jovanka Trenchevska, Minister of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia and head of the delegation, said that a process for the re-establishment of a national mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the Convention had been initiated in North Macedonia. To protect the rights of children, the capacities of the Ombudsman as a national institution for human rights had been strengthened, with special emphasis on the protection of children's rights. More than 60 per cent of the national strategy for deinstitutionalisation had been implemented, in terms of the transfer of money to beneficiaries, capacity building of the professionals, and in providing coordinated care at the local level. Currently there were no children under the age of 18 placed in any institution in North Macedonia. Ms. Trenchevska emphasised that the future of any society depended on its ability to ensure the well-being of the next generation of children.
In concluding remarks, José Angel Rodríguez Reyes, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for North Macedonia, thanked the delegation for all the answers provided. The answers had given the Committee a very good overview of how children lived in North Macedonia. Great progress had been made, however, significant challenges remained.
Ms. Trenchevska thanked the Committee for the constructive and open dialogue regarding issues relating to the rights of the child. North Macedonia had a strong political will to implement the Convention and develop measures which would improve the rights of the child across the country.
The delegation of North Macedonia consisted of representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Education and Science; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the State Statistical Office; and the Permanent Mission of North Macedonia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-first session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon to consider the combined fifth to sixth periodic report of Ukraine (CRC/C/UKR/5-6).
Report
The Committee has before it the combined third to sixth periodic report of North Macedonia (CRC/C/MKD/3-6).
Presentation of Report
JOVANKA TRENCHEVSKA, Minister of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia and head of the delegation, said that a process for the re-establishment of a national mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the Convention had been initiated in North Macedonia. A national strategy for the prevention and protection of children from violence 2020-2025 and an action plan 2020-2022 had been adopted in accordance with all relevant international documents, legislation and regulations. The national action plan for combatting trafficking in children 2021-2025 had been adopted and mobile teams which identified vulnerable categories had been established. To protect the rights of children, the capacities of the Ombudsman as a national institution for human rights had been strengthened, with special emphasis on the protection of children's rights. To reduce child poverty, a reform of the social and child protection system had been implemented, which introduced a minimum guaranteed income, significantly increasing transfers to families with low or no income.
The right to a special allowance was used by more than 6,500 children with disabilities and 35 day-care centres for children with disabilities had been developed. The development of a design for the establishment of a register for children and persons with disabilities was underway, to be completed by the end of 2022. The preliminary design for the reconstruction of the Institute for the Rehabilitation of Children and Youth in Skopje had been completed, and it was envisaged that the institution would grow into a contemporary centre for early identification and intervention, with day centres, professional rehabilitation, and a centre for family care. Programmes including the “strategy for safe motherhood” had resulted in a reduction in the mortality rate of premature babies, from 16 per cent in 2016, down to 9 per cent in 2021.
Ms. Trenchevska said that the Government had granted funds for the employment of 500 educational assistants in teaching, to support teachers working with students with disabilities, with 426 scholarships awarded to children with special needs. Programmes and public policies had been developed regarding the representation of the Roma community and the integration of Roma students in the education system. Roma educational mediators had been established to support the primary education of Roma, operating on a local level in 26 municipalities and in over 85 primary schools. Scholarships were also provided for Roma community students, with 891 scholarships for Roma high school students provided for the academic year 2021/2022. The State’s goal was to ensure that 60 per cent of children from 3 to 6 years of age were enrolled in preschool education by the end of 2024. From September 2022 onwards, sign language training would be organised for employees in pre-school institutions, targeted at care givers for children with hearing impairments.
More than 60 per cent of the national strategy for deinstitutionalisation had been implemented, in terms of the transfer of money to beneficiaries, capacity building of the professionals, and in providing coordinated care at the local level. Currently there were no children under the age of 18 placed in any institution in North Macedonia. Intensive work was being carried out to promote and strengthen the foster care system, including the opening of three foster family support centres, which promoted foster care service, and assessed and supported existing foster families to respond to the individual needs of children. A new multi-sectoral protocol for dealing with street children and the referral of street children was being developed.
Ms. Trenchevska emphasised that the future of any society depended on its ability to ensure the well-being of the next generation of children.
Questions by Committee Experts
JOSÉ ANGEL RODRÍGUEZ REYES, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for North Macedonia, said the State had made a lot of progress, however, some questions remained. Was the State considering signing the Optional Protocol? The Committee was glad to hear about the legislative progress made, however, there was a gap between legislation and translating that into acts. What steps were being taken to give effect to legislation on the rights of the child? Were there any plans for a legislative review? To what extent would children and non-governmental organizations be included in the review process? Was there an organization with appropriate authority to coordinate all activities to implement the Convention? Would a new broad-ranging national strategy which encompassed the Convention be developed? What steps were being taken to increase the budget allocation for children in all spheres? What steps were being taken to produce disaggregated data and assess the progress made towards sustainable development? What was being done to strengthen the Ombudsperson and ensure that the services of this body were known by the population? How was training on the Convention provided to professionals working with children?
What was being done to amend the law on family and eradicate provisions which allowed for child marriage? How was the equality policy being strengthened, and follow up ensured? What measures was the State taking to ensure that the rights of the child were incorporated into all laws? How was it ensured that those implementing these laws were properly trained? What measures were being taken to ensure that children’s opinions were heard? To what extent were children’s opinions accepted? What measures were being taken to ensure that judges and teachers regularly listened to children’s opinions and took them into consideration?
GEHAD MADI, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, noted that there was an administrative cost associated with birth registration and late registration. Almost 200 children were at risk of being stateless due to a lack of birth registration; could their situation be explained, and what efforts were being made to provide them with citizenship? In grade six, students could study subjects which were religious related, however, this was decided by parents, and there was no mechanism involving children in the decision making, regardless of their preference. Had the recommendation of the Ombudsman to remove the gospel reading in schools been implemented? What measures had been taken to protect the privacy of children? What measures were being taken to educate children and parents about protecting children from harmful content on the Internet?
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, congratulated North Macedonia on ratifying important international conventions, including the Istanbul Convention. What was the status of the national action plan for addressing abuse against children 2020–2025? When a child disclosed abuse or violence, there needed to be someone in the child’s immediate vicinity who could listen. The Expert was concerned about the lack of available professionals and coordinated protocols to respond to all forms of violence. Were there any plans to strengthen social work centres, for example, by increasing the number of staff? What happened once children reported an incident of violence? Were there child-friendly agencies in place to intervene in all cases of violence against children? Was it ensured that child victims and witnesses were interviewed without delay by trained forensic investigators? Was this done in a child-friendly environment?
Mr. Gudbrandsson was concerned about violence against minority groups, including Roma children and children with disabilities. What had been done in this area? The Expert commended North Macedonia for banning all forms of corporal punishment; however, in practice, this punishment was widely used by parents, which was concerning. The programmes addressing this needed to be implemented nationwide. Were there plans to increase the resources for these important programmes? Was medical or surgical treatment on intersex children allowed? If so, under what conditions? Were there adequate psychological services and support for intersex children and their parents?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that the ratification of the Optional Protocol was envisaged in a recently adopted strategy, and it was expected that the document would soon be ratified. Children would be entitled to lodge individual complaints as a result of the ratification of this Protocol. A new law on defence was adopted in 2011, and this and the Criminal Code reaffirmed the State’s commitment to protecting persons under the age of 18 to not be recruited into the country’s armed forces. North Macedonia was undergoing a continuous process for improving the framework for the protection of children’s rights. The Criminal Code was being amended to be harmonised with the Istanbul Convention, and genital mutilation was specifically included as a criminal act. The law on justice for children was also being amended, and the definition and best interests of the child was being clarified. The mechanisms for the prevention of juvenile delinquency were also being strengthened. A provision had been incorporated in the Criminal Code, which stipulated that no child involved in trafficking should be punished, in cases where they had been forced to commit such acts.
Institutions in North Macedonia allocated budget funds aimed at realising the rights of children, including for initiatives such as free legal assistance. The State was continuously working to strengthen the capacities of the professionals working within the system of justice for children. Social workers, judges, and public prosecutors were obligated to attend a minimum five-day training on an annual basis; this was being implemented as a legal obligation. A total of 14 trainings were conducted in 2020 relating to the topics of justice for children and for the protection of child victims. In 2016, a promotion of the competence of the Ombudsman had been introduced, and the financial independence of the institution had been strengthened, with a special department established to monitor children’s rights. The Ombudsman was a very important segment regarding the protection of children’s rights.
Data on the law on justice for children was being collected analytically and reviewed by parliament, with indicators showing how the law was being implemented. The aim was to create national level policies to improve and promote children’s rights. This data was published publicly each year. Amendments had been made to the Criminal Code of North Macedonia regarding early marriage, which was punished by imprisonment. In December 2018, amendments had been introduced to incorporate a definition of violence against children, which also included mental violence, violence via the Internet and the stalking of children.
The national mechanism on the rights of the child was not operational, and to improve the conditions of children in North Macedonia, a national action plan was being prepared to see how the implementation of the rights of children would be carried out. There was a national coordinated body to protect children from abuse and violence. A multi-sectoral protocol had been adopted which identified how each institution would act in cases of abuse of children. This covered the training of civil servants in all sectors to provide for coordinated efforts in the protection of the children, and included a mechanism for children to report instances of violence. Corporal punishment was strictly prohibited in family situations.
Due to the higher rates of corporal violence, the State, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, had launched a positive campaign on good parenting practices, to enable parents to be educated in ways to adequately bring up their children. Laws and reforms would continue to be introduced which improved the rights of children within the family. Services had been provided to children involved in the de-institutionalisation process, including the assignment of personal assistants. The number of social workers and professionals had been increased. A handbook had been prepared which enabled professionals to identify the best interests of the child at any stage.
A guide had been developed for student participation and protection of children’s rights in primary school. This guide was envisaged to be used by all schools and included resources for capacity building and the application of children’s rights within the educational system. It was recommended for each school to establish a team, which was responsible for supporting the activities of student participation. The president of the student parliament was elected by a majority, through anonymous voting. The student ombudsman ensured the rights of protection of children in the school. Roma children were entitled to education, and significant efforts were being invested to prevent discrimination of this group in the education system at all levels. Roma educational mediators represented the bridge between the professional services and the Roma community, and were working actively in the field. The number of these mediators was being increased.
In the law on primary education, bullying was defined, and a procedure was outlined for reporting bullying and protecting children against any form of violence. In each primary school there was a contact person responsible for receiving reports of violence. Reports could be made anonymously. Efforts were being made to provide a special programme within primary schools, which would aim to prevent bullying from occurring. The delegation said that a procedure was in place when children’s rights were abused in the cyber or digital space. If a report was received, a criminal investigation was immediately launched to remove abusive content from cyberspace and provide protection to children.
Interviews with children who were the victims of crimes were conducted in specialised rooms with specially trained juvenile crime inspectors. A multi-sectorial team was established to work with the child victim. The rooms were set up with audio and video recording, and the number of interviews with a child victim were restricted. Trainings had been conducted with professionals in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund and other bodies, in areas which included identifying children who were victims of sexual abuse. The delegation said there were not enough reliable sources to provide statistical data and it was difficult to collect data on minors.
Questions by Committee Experts
JOSÉ ANGEL RODRÍGUEZ REYES, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for North Macedonia, noted that there were plans to create a coordinating body and an action plan; was there a deadline for this? Had children and civil society been included in the consultation process? What measures were adopted to eradicate discrimination against Roma children? What mechanisms were there to gauge the efficiency of the programmes in place? Would support programmes be created to help children or adolescents who wished to have a sex change?
GEHAD MADI, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked about the reading of the gospel in school; was this reading of the gospel compulsory in secondary education?
A Committee Expert asked about the indicatory pertaining to justice? What was being measured and what was the outcome? How was a follow up conducted?
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked about the current situation regarding therapy for children who were victims of sexual violence and other kinds of abuse? Was trauma-focused therapy offered? If so, how was this done?
A Committee Expert asked about the training for the good parenting skills; was corporal punishment also prohibited in the Criminal Code?
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, noted concern about the basic social services at a local level. Was it the local, regional, or central governments that were responsible for poor families? Could information be provided on parental leave and if there were any intentions of increasing that? Was work being done to heighten the fathers’ responsibility? Mr. Gudbrandsson commended North Macedonia for the great success in de-institutionalisation, saying remarkable progress had been made in this area. Would small group homes be replaced with family placements? Was a system in place to prevent unsuitable entries into the care system, and ensure poverty was not considered a reason for the placement of children into care? Regular reviews of placement were very important; could the delegation inform of measures taken in this respect? Regarding children leaving alternative care, were there individual pathway plans in place, and support for independent living?
JOSÉ ANGEL RODRÍGUEZ REYES, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for North Macedonia, asked what measures were being taken to improve data collection and ensure it was disaggregated, particularly in relation to children with disabilities? What measures were being taken to move children out of institutions, especially those with disabilities in small group homes? How were school buildings and transport being adapted for children with disabilities? What was being done to tackle prejudice against children with disabilities? What measures was North Macedonia taking to increase its health budget? What was being done to decrease the number of caesareans and ensure they were limited to only those births which required them for medical reasons? What measures were being taken to strengthen existing programmes in child mortality rates? What could be done to further decrease this rate? How was vaccination coverage of children being increased? What measures were being taken to support breast feeding and adhere to the international code of marketing? What measures were being taken to promote a healthy diet for children?
How was comprehensive sexual education being strengthened? Was this based on science, health, and sexual and reproductive health rights? What measures were being taken to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases? What measures were being taken to improve access to medication to prevent and tackle HIV AIDS? Were there prevention programmes to tackle self-harm and suicide? What mental health programmes were available for adolescents? What was being done to ensure access to safe abortions, particularly for underprivileged groups? What measures were being taken to improve poverty among children?
A Committee Expert said that penalties were imposed on parents who did not send their children to school. Prior to imposing the penalties, were there programmes which educated parents on the importance of sending their children to schools? What was the Government’s strategy to support children whose families forced them to drop out of school and work? Was vocational training provided for victims of human trafficking? Was there a vocational training plan for staff who cared for these victims? Was there a follow-up mechanism on school achievement? What strategy was in place to increase the number of children attending nursery school? What programmes were in place to encourage rest and leisure?
GEHAD MADI, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked about measures taken to abolish the placement of unaccompanied children in reception centres. Information was still needed about the measures taken to address the root causes of children in a street situation. What measures were taken to provide free legal aid for children in conflict with the law? Five-day training for judges on the whole spectrum of child justice was not enough. What were the measures taken to regularly monitor juvenile prisons? What measures were being taken to stop the practice of solitary confinement and investigate cases of the use of force by security staff? How were child victims protected in court proceedings? What system of protection was in place for children who were victims of trafficking, including their reintegration into society? Was there a system in place to identify foreign children entering the State party who may have been involved in armed conflict abroad, for their protection? The delegation needed to carefully read articles two and three of the Optional Protocol to identify what needed to be included in legislation.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that non-governmental organizations were part of a working group for developing the justice for children law. Recommendations from non-governmental organizations were welcome and these organizations participated in the drafting process. The draft law for justice for children was currently being reviewed and it was anticipated that parliament would adopt it soon.
North Macedonia had proposed changes in current legislation which would help identify the procedure for gender change. The current law did not require any medical or surgical intervention for the change of sex. Legal assistance for children was guaranteed and an interview with a child could not be conducted without a defence lawyer. If the parents or guardian of the child could not cover the cost of the lawyer, this would be covered by the State. The lawyers assigned to children would have previously attended training on the rights of the children. This training took place throughout the country over a five-day period.
The participation of minors in active armed conflict was prohibited. The concern was primarily around instances where children were recruited into armed forces that were not agents of the State. With the amendments to the Criminal Code from 2018, a new criminal act had been introduced, which incriminated acts of a person committing physical or mental violence against children. Corporal punishment was considered a criminal act, within the context of family violence.
Children victims had all the same rights as adults, before, during and after criminal proceedings, as well as special rights in accordance with the Convention. The child had to be informed in a language that they understood, and on a level appropriate to their age. The court was only permitted to re-interview a child victim once, and this could be done by audio or video. During the procedure, the right of the child to be identified was guaranteed.
Between the period of 2018 to 2021, funds were paid by the courts to identify children who were victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking. Continuous training was being conducted for judges and prosecutors. In 2021 a training was conducted with emphasis on special measures for child victims. The academy for judges and public prosecutors would continue to conduct special training sessions, as well as initial training for candidates.
The Convention was visible in the law on justice for children and was part of the legal order. The information being shared during the training sessions clearly highlighted the State’s dedication to the Convention and its standards. Regarding the use of force and isolation, in accordance with the law, no such special measures could be applied against the child, however, these children could be placed in special cells. From the start of 2021, there were 16 sentences where children were placed in special cells, for a period of five to seven days.
In 2012, an inter-ministerial body was established, according to the principles of the United Nations. This body coordinated all activities regarding human rights. In 2019 an expert working group was set up within this body, and a decision was adopted to include additional members, including an Ombudsman. A draft report was being prepared for the Government, which was first shared with the non-governmental organization sector for their comments and observations.
Seven female victims of trafficking had been identified, with six of them children. Two of these children had been placed in foster families and one had been returned to their biological parent. Professionals at the centre for victims of trafficking worked towards the reintegration and re-socialisation of children. Children who were placed in the centre were constantly subjected to risk analysis, and attended educational centres. Additional exams were conducted which allowed these children to complete their education on time. The children were also involved in occupational workshops, including art and drawing, to assist with their reintegration.
Steps were being taken to reduce begging among children, and a daily centre for street children had been established to allow these children to reintegrate into society. The centre focused on raising the capacity of parents to assist with the better upbringing of their children and encourage responsible parenting. Seventy children who were on the street were currently being assisted through this centre. When identifying a street child involved in begging, the parents were informed, and if they did not act upon the recommendation of the centre, the child was taken away from the parent and additional shelter for the child would be provided.
In 2019, a reform was carried out of the social protection system, which initiated the commencement of several processes. During these processes, children were placed in small group homes. This was not a permanent decision, and as soon as the care system had the sufficient resources, those children would be transferred and placed in foster families. This could only be done with the strengthening of the care system.
Work was being carried out to strengthen the capacities of foster families for targeted situations, including for children who were victims of trafficking and children with disabilities. Any negative situation which occurred in the foster families could be reported by the children, either to their guardians, or in schools. Amendments had been made to the law on child protection, by increasing the number of beneficiaries of the child allowance. Children leaving foster families and small group homes were entitled to monetary assistance and social housing and could receive funds for educational support.
During the pandemic, vouchers were given to children for tablets and computers to assist them with learning from home. Internet cards were also given to those who needed it. The delegation said that there was a prescribed terminology to deal with all forms of discrimination against Roma children. Roma mediators were defined in the law on primary education and scholarships were provided to Roma children in public and private high schools. Free transportation, books and devices had also been provided to Roma children.
The reading of the gospel in schools was not compulsory. Transportation and infrastructure were being provided to children with disabilities, and accessibility for these children was a compulsory criterion for schools to be granted funds. Fifteen educational facilities would undergo restructuring to be more accessible to children with disabilities. Sensory rooms and inclusive playgrounds had been provided, and 51 expert educators had been employed with a specific focus on children with disabilities. The competencies of schoolteachers had been improved, and standards had been adopted for inter-cultural education.
The delegation said that many pregnant women were deciding to resort to private gynaecological practices and deliver in private medical clinics, where many of the procedures were conducted with caesarean operations. In 2019 significant steps had been made, and the right to abortion had been reformed in a more liberal manner. In 2021 a pilot project was launched to implement procedures to assess the basic health care conditions for citizens.
According to the Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, certain individuals would be exempt from the law on health care insurance. The budget for health care had been increased. Immunisation had been conducted against communicable diseases. All institutions needed to be engaged for the vaccination process to be properly rolled out. Campaigns were being conducted which outlined the importance of vaccines for small children. The vaccines for COVID-19 were being implemented for children between the ages of 9 to 14. The strategy for safe motherhood improved the health of new-borns, and the mortality rate of new-borns had decreased. More activities needed to be undertaken to improve the numbers among the Roma community. The Ministry of Health was completing the reform of the primary health care system, with the focus of the programme on the individual and strengthening the knowledge and skills of individuals in primary healthcare.
Questions by Committee Experts
JOSÉ ANGEL RODRÍGUEZ REYES, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for North Macedonia, asked about the State’s policy on intersex children. Did the State wait until intersex children reached the appropriate level of maturity so they could decide on which sex they would like to be?
A Committee Expert asked if there were mechanisms for the early detection of children with disabilities? Otherwise, what explained the high number of children with disabilities in North Macedonia? What obstacles prevented parents from declaring the birth of a child? What about nutritional programmes for obese children? Was there information about mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS? Was there a prevention programme rolled out across the country? Did Roma women have access to these programmes? Did teenage girls who were victims of rape have access to a support programme?
Another Committee Expert noted the drop-out rates of girls from schools in the Roma community. Were there any specific programmes being carried out to prevent this? Poverty, early marriages, and miscarriages were a nexus of issues affecting girls in the Roma community.
A Committee Expert asked about the mechanism established by the Government to ensure the follow-up on the implementation of the Convention?
One Committee Expert asked about children being held in detention; were they effectively separated from adults? Information had been received which raised concern about girls in detention centres. It did not seem as though they were fully separated. What was the difference between solitary confinement and being placed in a special cell? What were plans to fully eradicate the practice of placing children in special cells in the juvenile justice system?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that before the law on unregistered people was adopted, people were called on to apply for registration. Around 124 children were recorded and registered from this callout, and were therefore given the appropriate social protection. All forms of abuse and violence against children were prohibited, and this was outlined in the Criminal Code, including corporal punishment, which fell under family violence. The Government worked with parents and children, educating them on the harmful impacts of early marriage. The delegation said that the intersectoral body for human rights had developed an overview which monitored the degree of implementation of all recommendations. This was used as the basis for preparing the next report.
There was a higher number of Roma girls compared to men; 40 per cent were male and 60 per cent were female within the system. Around 113 Roma children had dropped out of primary school, with boys accounting for around 75 per cent of the dropout rate. However, the dropout of Roma children had been drastically reduced compared to previous years. A methodology had been created which recognised the rights of each child with a disability. The process of establishing centres and an expert body had not yet been completed, however, it would soon be decided in which cities the expert body would become operational.
A programme was currently underway to determine the early detection of disability. In the future, it was expected that the rights of persons with disabilities would be improved. The right to abortion was regulated in 2019 which allowed for interrupting the pregnancy up until the ninth week. This was a great step forward compared to the old law. In cases where a child was conceived by sexual assault or rape, a woman had the right to resort to abortion after the twelfth gestation week.
Concerning addiction programmes, the aim was to involve more people with mental issues in these programmes in order to reduce the use of drugs. The purpose of the programme was to provide individually tailored interventions. A new strategy on drugs had been launched with a specific goal towards targeting children using drugs.
The delegation said that data had been gathered on persons with disabilities which included information on five different kinds of disabilities, and four stages of impairment had been identified. This data provided the framework to extract a good representative sample which would allow for analysis of different areas of disabilities.
The Government was still working on regulating the procedure for intersex children. This was a sensitive area which was new for the State. The child’s consent would be asked for and it was important to determine if consent would be sought from both parents. The best interests of the child needed to be considered.
There was an explicit law regarding detention, where children were placed separately from adults and females and males were separated. Solitary confinement against children was not allowed. For more severe violations of the orders of the institutions, children could be placed in special rooms, for a period of five to seven days. During this period, there were special teams that would work with the child, on correctional measures, so the child was not completely isolated.
Closing Remarks
JOSÉ ANGEL RODRÍGUEZ REYES, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for North Macedonia, thanked the delegation for all the answers provided.
The answers had given the Committee a very good overview of how children lived in North Macedonia. Mr. Rodríguez Reyes appreciated the cooperation and efforts of the delegation. Great progress had been made, however, significant challenges remained. It was vital to understand the Convention, to understand children as rights holders.
JOVANKA TRENCHEVSKA, Minister of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the constructive and open dialogue regarding the issues relating to the rights of the child. Despite the time limits, it was hoped that most of the questions had been answered, to explain what the State had done so far, and the challenges faced. All recommendations by the Committee would be reviewed by all institutions in North Macedonia and transformed into activities and results. North Macedonia had a strong political will to implement the Convention and develop measures which would improve the rights of children across the country.
MIKIKO OTANI, Committee Chairperson, said the dialogue had been a precious opportunity, with the purpose of serving all children in North Macedonia. Ms. Otani thanked the delegation and extended best wishes to the children in North Macedonia.
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CRC.22.021E