Gender Task Force

Short Report from SP GTF Chair's Mission in Macedonia

BACKGROUND

From the start of the armed conflict, SP GTF partners in FYRoMacedonia did their utmost to bring a stop to the fighting and to resolve the underlying issues of the conflict in a peaceful way, that is, in political dialogue within democratic institutions and with active support of the international community.

Two large women's networks ñUWOM and the SP GTF Macedonia Women's Lobby- have issued international appeals for peace and asked for support in peacefully resolving the conflict from the international community. Women's groups from 12 countries of the SP region supported these Appeals with their signatures. The Appeals were first sent to the US Ambassador and the representative of NATO in FYRoMacedonia. They were then sent to the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, leaders of all countries, members of the UN Security Council and to the Secretariat of the Stability Pact.

On March 21, 2001, the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South East Europe, Mr. Bodo Hombach, visited Macedonia. During his time, Savka Todorovska, SP GTF NGO Focal Point in FYRoMacedonia, organized a meeting between Mr. Hombach and the Macedonian Women's Lobby - a group of women leaders from all nations in FYRoMacedonia working within SP GTF. During this meeting, which included 25 women's NGOs, political party leaders, the SP GTF representative from the national government, and elected women officials, the Special Coordinator was asked to preserve territorial integrity of FYRoMacedonia and to return peace and stability to the country. At this time the Macedonian Women's Lobby distributed their Appeal to the Stability Pact and the representatives of the international com-munity. The Appeal contained four requests: the protection of the Macedonian territorial integrity and sovereignty, protection of Macedonia's northern boarder, humanitarian support to the victims of conflicts, and economic assistance for development of Macedonia.

Bodo Hombach stated that these requests were in accordance with the requests of all democratic political actors in FYRoMacedonia. He agreed that there is a close connection between economic development and political stability of the country and that there is a need for more involvement by the international community and organized women in both areas. In addition, he welcomed the active participation of women in the peaceful solving of the conflict. At the end of this meeting women decided to organize a series of dialogues on the most pressing issues and to continue these dialogues until the problems are solved.

Prior to this meeting the Macedonian Women's Lobby organized three women's civil society dialogues, on the issue of how to address the groups who have resorted to arms in order to solve ethnic disputes. They shared their views and feelings regarding the political situation in the country and have discussed the issue of rights regarding education and the use of national symbols. They have also discussed the role of the media in the resolution of the conflict.

All women regardless of the nationality expressed their concern regarding the war and refused to accept the use of arms as a legitimate means to settle it. Albanian women stated that 90% of all ethnic Albanians in FYRoMacedonia are not in favor of the conflict and expressed their desire to solve the problems within the existing democratic institutions of FYRoMacedonia.

The most important outcome of these dialogues was that people in civil society had to speak out and to expose their opinions in the public forum. Above all it was stressed that the political process should include women's voices in all international and national bodies dealing with the resolution of the co