Wednesday, 28 November 2012
PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE TOPIC: “INITIATIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE POPULATION POLICY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA”
Yesterday the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia, held a public debate on the topic “Initiatives and recommendations for sustainable population policy in the Republic of Macedonia”.
The members and deputy members of the Committee, the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, representatives of several institutions, the committees on equal opportunities from the units of local self-government, international organizations and NGOs took part in the debate.
The Chairperson of the Committee Ms. Liljana Popovska opened the debate. The Minister of Labour and Social Policy Mr. Spiro Ristovski, Ms. Sonja Tanevska - representative of UNFPA, Ms. Valentina Pavlovska - State Adviser in the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and Chairperson of the Coordinating Body for monitoring and implementation of the National Strategy for Demographic Development of the Republic of Macedonia 2008-2015, Mr. Jovan Pejkovski from the Institute for Social Work and Social Policy, and Mr. Damjan Nikolovski from the Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER) were key note speakers for the event.
After an extensive debate, the members of the Committee adopted the following Conclusions:
1. The Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men welcomes the efforts and activities of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy aimed at developing a sustainable population policy, based on analysis of the legislation and of the effects from the measures for increasing the birthrate in the country, revision of the National Strategy for Demographic Development of the Republic of Macedonia 2008-2015 and preparation of operational plans, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund, experts and NGOs.
2. The Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men welcomes the methodology chosen for realization of these activities (establishment of topical working groups, organizations of open public debates in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia and in the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, etc.)
3. The Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men welcomes the interest and the efforts of the NGO sector for development of a sustainable population policy, and remains open for future cooperation.