“Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”: marking International Women’s Day 2022

An educational exhibition under the global theme of “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” was available during 8 March – 8 April for the general public in the largest shopping mall in the region – Skopje East Gate Mall. With a content in three languages – English, Macedonian and Albanian, specifically adapted for a younger audience, the exhibition invited visitors to immerse and explore more on both the history of IWD and the current state of gender equality in the country, including some exemplary cases of women-led initiatives for sustainability in local communities. Video available: https://bit.ly/3yhmBQo

IWD2022 was also used as an appropriate occasion to launch a campaign on gender statistics within the Gender Equality Facility North Macedonia. Through a series of city billboards, social media posts and videos, key findings of gender-disaggregated data and messages on the importance of gender statistics for planning and implementation of policies and services, was launched together with the project partners: the Secretariat for European Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the State Statistical Office. Video available: https://bit.ly/3wbfSVC

The 13th edition of Women’s Rights Nights, the oldest event offering a cultural alternative to the March 8 celebration in the country, took place during March 8-10 under the patronage of the City of Skopje. The event included documentary screenings, all-female artists exhibition and the monodrama “Date” performed by the actress and YouTube regional star and vocal feminist from Serbia – Sandra Siladjev. During the course of March, a series of documentary screenings and discussion were also organised for high school students.

International Women's Day is an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women's empowerment but also to critically reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide. The theme for IWD 2022 was “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the way to sustainable future for all, including through actions aimed at climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response.