Women from local women’s circles recently took part in a two-day workshop in Veles aimed at building their capacities and strengthening their participation in their local communities. During the workshop, they discussed human rights, their significance and the principles they are based on, as well as women’s rights and the development of the movement for their advancement. Through small-group work, interactive exercises and an exchange of experiences, the participants had an opportunity to identify different forms of violations of women’s rights and discuss situations they encounter in their everyday lives.

Particular attention was paid to identifying problems in their own communities and exploring how personal experience and knowledge can be transformed into initiatives for change. The second part of the workshop focused on advocacy and opportunities to influence public policies. The participants selected issues they wanted to advocate for, worked on preparing an advocacy contribution, and practiced advocacy before different institutions through role-playing exercises. The workshop concluded with an evaluation and a joint reflection on what they had learned, emphasizing that knowing and understanding one’s rights is an important step towards greater participation and meaningful change in the community.