The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, has recommended a new policy approach to combat ethnic divides among children in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The comments came at the end of a five-day visit to Macedonia, during which the commissioner visited children at three schools; two in Tetovo and one in Skopje. The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress the country has made in reinforcing human rights, and Muižnieks welcomed the fact that conditions are improving.
He highlighted new amendments to Macedonia’s laws against discrimination, which would extend the list of grounds of discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He also emphasised the authorities’ efforts to finalise the process of de-institutionalisation of people with disabilities, a process which has been underway for several years.
What improvements does Macedonia need to make?
The commissioner warned that a divide between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remains: “Macedonian society remains deeply divided along ethnic and linguistic lines and it is high time for political leaders to devise an integration strategy to overcome these divisions”.
The commissioner recommended greater integration between Macedonian and Albanian children as a step towards addressing this challenge. Because the country’s education system is divided according to the language of instruction, these children have little opportunity to meet, learn and play together.
“Children are the future and it is crucial, in a multi-ethnic society, to give them the possibility and skills to build mutual understanding, respect and tolerance. Instead of keeping them apart, the education system should provide them with an environment which allows and encourages interaction,” he said.
Muižnieks emphasised that better integration between ethnic groups, as well efforts to include children with disabilities, should not be viewed as a utopian goal. He stressed that with the support of local and national authorities to adapt education systems, and through outreach to parents and communities, inclusive and integrated education is possible.
