Situational Analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Republic of North Macedonia – 2021
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Kochoska, Elena
Jovanovska, Bojana
Ortakovski, Tomislav
Abstract
The Republic of North Macedonia ratified the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2011. In the
following period, the rights of persons with disabilities
were advanced because of the ongoing reforms in
social protection and education, and developments in
the areas of non-discrimination, inclusive employment
services, deinstitutionalization, access to sexual and
reproductive health services, prevention of genderbased
violence and promotion of gender equality. A
political will to ensure active participation of persons
with disabilities is evident and reflected in the
legislative framework.
The 2019 Social Protection Law promotes the principle
of equal treatment and non-discrimination in the
realization of social protection rights, which are based
on equal and just treatment, recognizing disability as
a basis for discrimination. The new Social Protection
Law and a major revision of the Child Protection Law
overhauled and consolidated the cash benefit system
to, among other things, ensure increased coverage
and adequacy. The reform also introduced new social
support and care services for persons with disabilities
and their caregivers.
With the undertaken reforms in education, the state
strives for all children with disabilities to be included in
regular primary education. The state has also provided
financial resources and hired 500 education assistants
for children and youth with disabilities through primary
schools with a resource centre.
The system of assessment according to the
International Classification of Functioning (ICF) for
children and youth up to 26 years of age has recently
started to be successfully implemented, in four of the
eight planning regions. However, the transition to ICFbased
assessment as the single-entry point into the
system of cash benefits and support services cannot
be completed until assessment bodies are established
in all regions. The process of deinstitutionalization is
ongoing, albeit not in line with article 19 of the CRPD.
The process has been completed for children, with no
children left in large-scale institutions in the country.
Children without parental care are eighter in foster care,
or small group homes. However, there are still persons
with disabilities over 18 years of age in institutions.
Generally, the process of deinstitutionalization should
depart from the goal of closing large institutions and
move towards provision of accessible and affordable
housing, modern technical aids, personal assistance,
and peer support, which will improve self-confidence
of the persons with disabilities and their capacity to
become fully included in society.
Considering the previous developments and
achievements, this situational analysis uses the CRPD
lens to identify seven main bottlenecks and challenges
in the realization of fundamental human rights of the
persons with disabilities, and the basic preconditions
for the inclusion of disability in the society.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2011. In the
following period, the rights of persons with disabilities
were advanced because of the ongoing reforms in
social protection and education, and developments in
the areas of non-discrimination, inclusive employment
services, deinstitutionalization, access to sexual and
reproductive health services, prevention of genderbased
violence and promotion of gender equality. A
political will to ensure active participation of persons
with disabilities is evident and reflected in the
legislative framework.
The 2019 Social Protection Law promotes the principle
of equal treatment and non-discrimination in the
realization of social protection rights, which are based
on equal and just treatment, recognizing disability as
a basis for discrimination. The new Social Protection
Law and a major revision of the Child Protection Law
overhauled and consolidated the cash benefit system
to, among other things, ensure increased coverage
and adequacy. The reform also introduced new social
support and care services for persons with disabilities
and their caregivers.
With the undertaken reforms in education, the state
strives for all children with disabilities to be included in
regular primary education. The state has also provided
financial resources and hired 500 education assistants
for children and youth with disabilities through primary
schools with a resource centre.
The system of assessment according to the
International Classification of Functioning (ICF) for
children and youth up to 26 years of age has recently
started to be successfully implemented, in four of the
eight planning regions. However, the transition to ICFbased
assessment as the single-entry point into the
system of cash benefits and support services cannot
be completed until assessment bodies are established
in all regions. The process of deinstitutionalization is
ongoing, albeit not in line with article 19 of the CRPD.
The process has been completed for children, with no
children left in large-scale institutions in the country.
Children without parental care are eighter in foster care,
or small group homes. However, there are still persons
with disabilities over 18 years of age in institutions.
Generally, the process of deinstitutionalization should
depart from the goal of closing large institutions and
move towards provision of accessible and affordable
housing, modern technical aids, personal assistance,
and peer support, which will improve self-confidence
of the persons with disabilities and their capacity to
become fully included in society.
Considering the previous developments and
achievements, this situational analysis uses the CRPD
lens to identify seven main bottlenecks and challenges
in the realization of fundamental human rights of the
persons with disabilities, and the basic preconditions
for the inclusion of disability in the society.
Subjects
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