Speech by the UN Resident Coordinator on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Dear guests, dear friends 

It is a pleasure to see so many of you today, like always, showing solidarity and eagerness to join the fight against gender-based violence.  

A bit more than four years ago, when I first arrived in North Macedonia, this campaign was one of the first big activities that we organized.  

Today, as 4 years ago, we had our traditional partners - the EU Delegation and the Mission of OSCE by our side, something that I am proud to be able to say.  

But we also had many of you present there, on a very rainy day, in the park Women fighter.  

Under the orange lights and umbrellas, even then, it became evident that there is a clear determination in this country to create the mechanisms needed to eliminate violence against women and girls. 

I am extremely happy to recognize that North Macedonia has important achievements in this respect. Most of the legislation is in line with the Istanbul Convention, the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)  and the European standards and norms.  

What we need now is to speak up more. To act more. Laws are not enough when they are only ink on paper.  

It is our joint duty to make sure that they are being fully implemented, to make them a social norm, part of our behaviour.  

Today, we start the campaign with an appropriately titled theatre play – Things that we don’t talk about. Or at least we don’t talk enough. 

So instead of things that we don’t talk about, let’s make it something that we don’t stop talking about.  

This discussion often starts with the 16 days of activism campaign, but it must not stop after 16 days. It must continue every day, everywhere, in every household, every family, every school, every community, until every woman and girl enjoy the opportunity to live in a violence-free world, fully able to contribute to the development of our country, our world and our planet.  

Because violence against women and girls can be stopped! And together, we can make it stop! 

Thank you all for coming and I hope you will enjoy the play! 

Thank you!