At the invitation of the Municipality of Probishtip, and in the framework of the Program for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for 2022, representatives of ZELS held training for municipal councillors on the topic “Integrating the gender perspective in local policies.”
The aim of the training was to introduce the representatives of the Council of the Municipality of Probistip to the concept of gender equality and their motivation to act in order to improve the position of women in all spheres of social life.
The training was attended by all members of the Council of the Municipality of Probistip, members of the Equal Opportunities Commission, as well as the coordinator of the municipality. Irena Nikolov, training councillor and gender equality coordinator in ZELS, talked about the basic notions of gender, the existence of gender stereotypes and gender roles, how to overcome gender stereotypes and what the municipality can do in accordance with its competencies and legal framework for advancing gender equality. Blagorodna Shopova, a training councillor in charge of social policy issues, spoke about the existing inequalities between women and men in various spheres, according to available statistical data in the country. Furthermore, through exercises and discussion, the councillors were introduced to the need to monitor the situation with gender equality at the local level, through the use of gender-disaggregated data, in order to reduce the existing gender gaps. The participants acquired skills for determining the situation with gender equality by competencies in the municipality and by working in groups, defined activities and measures for overcoming inequalities between women and men and girls and boys in the municipality.
The need for mutual cooperation between the Council and the Equal Opportunities Commission with the Equal Opportunities Coordinator at the local level was also emphasized in order to act in a coordinated manner towards the development and adoption of gender-sensitive local policies.
The Municipality of Probistip is one of the most active municipalities in the country that continuously works on developing activities and programs through a gender perspective.