Women from rural communities continue to face numerous barriers to actively participating in social life and local decision-making processes. Their role is often limited to agriculture and family care, while their needs, ideas, and initiatives remain insufficiently recognized in local policymaking. Overcoming these barriers and empowering women to become active agents of change in their communities are at the heart of the project “Women Taking the Lead in Local Communities.”
Во рамки на проектот, во повеќе локални заедници низ земјата се организираат дебати и средби на кои жените имаат можност отворено да зборуваат за предизвиците со кои се соочуваат, да ги идентификуваат своите приоритети и да предлагаат решенија за подобрување на квалитетот на животот во средините во кои живеат. Претставничките на граѓанските организации посочуваат дека, покрај системските пречки, неопходно е да се работи и на мобилизација, охрабрување и градење доверба кај жените, со цел тие поактивно да учествуваат во процесите на одлучување.
As part of the project, debates and meetings are being organized in various local communities across the country, providing women with opportunities to openly discuss the challenges they face, identify their priorities, and propose solutions to improve the quality of life in their communities. Representatives of civil society organizations emphasize that, in addition to addressing systemic barriers, efforts must also focus on mobilizing, empowering, and building trust among women to encourage their more active participation in decision-making processes.
Renata Stamenovska Jančić from the Humanitarian Association “Majka” in Kumanovo also highlighted the need to establish accessible and effective mechanisms for civic participation. She noted that, according to the data available to her, women, particularly those from rural communities, are currently insufficiently involved in these processes, limiting opportunities for their voices and initiatives to be heard. According to Stamenovska Jančić, civic participation mechanisms should be regular and accessible to women from rural areas. Furthermore, when women submit proposals or initiatives, they should receive feedback on the subsequent steps and actions taken.
