As part of the international project INCLUDE – Inclusive Leadership and Democratic Participation of Persons with Disabilities, the Association Equality conducted research activities aimed at identifying the barriers, challenges, and good practices regarding the active participation of persons with disabilities in public, civic, and political life in North Macedonia.The research included ananalysis of the existing legal and institutional framework, focus groups with 9 persons with disabilities, and consultations with 22 representatives of institutions and organizations. The gathered information and experiences have been compiled into four documents:
National Desk Research – an overview of the legal framework, the current situation, existing barriers, and positive practices.
Focus Group Report – direct experiences, needs, and recommendations of persons with disabilities.
Institutional Consultations Report – institutional perspectives, challenges, and opportunities for improving inclusive participation.
National Consolidated Report – an integrated analysis of the findings and recommendations for future action.
The key conclusion is that true inclusion does not end with mere presence at meetings and consultations; rather, it entails having a real impact on decisions that affect persons with disabilities.
The results will serve as a basis for developing practical tools and a handbook on inclusive representation, with the aim of strengthening the leadership capacities of persons with disabilities and enhancing institutional mechanisms for their active inclusion.
Provided below are the four documents containing the detailed findings, analyses, and recommendations from the research.
The INCLUDE project is funded by the European Union, through the CERV programme.
