Skopje, 17 July 2024 (MIA) - The measures and actions taken by the competent authorities are not sufficiently effective in creating conditions for the inclusion of rural women in the labour market. Adequate emancipation has not been ensured, nor is proper value given to their work, including fair wages. Over the past decades, the competent authorities have continuously ignored the need for balanced regional development. This is an ongoing process indicating the need for additional measures, as highlighted Wednesday at the promotional event of the joint audit report from the regional cooperative performance audit.

The report, presented in Skopje, is on the topic 'Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women from Rural Areas Through Their Inclusion in the Labour Market,' and was conducted by the State Audit Office, as the coordinator of this regional audit, along with the Supreme Audit Institutions of the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Kosovo, with the support of United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women.

In his address at the event, Chief State Auditor Maksim Acevski pointed out that, according to the audit activities conducted by the State Audit Office, it has been found that the measures and actions taken by the competent authorities are essentially not sufficiently effective in creating conditions for the inclusion of rural women in the labour market.

“If you look at the data presented in the audit report regarding the three key areas examined in the audit - whether we have appropriately designed measures and activities in the strategic plans - you will find that effective measures are lacking. If you examine the written conditions concerning whether the competent authorities are taking sufficient measures for the education and emancipation of rural women and their appearance in the labour market, you will also notice that the measures are not effective enough,” Acevski said.

He added that the answer to the question of whether we provide quality public services for rural women is unsatisfactory, as there are not enough public services created for rural women.

"The number of kindergartens built for children in rural areas is inadequate, and the same goes for the homes for the elderly in rural areas. If you review the facts in other audit reports related to this one, regarding investment in balanced regional development, you will see that the data on investment in balanced regional development is inadequate or not sufficiently positive," Acevski noted.

As he noted, according to the final audit report on the state budget, which was published yesterday and where by law the state is supposed to allocate 1% of the GDP for balanced regional development, it was found that the allocation of funds for balanced regional development is 0.09%.

“The effect or consequences of such inappropriate actions and insufficient care for balanced regional development have resulted in 4% of Macedonia's territory being depopulated, with no population. In 205 settlements in our territory, there is not a single resident, and in 215 settlements, there are fewer than ten residents. This indicates that the population in rural areas is massively migrating, which is also related to the inadequate role and position of rural women,” Acevski added.

According to Acevski, rural women play a key role of change in reducing poverty, generating income and creating employment opportunities, which is a crucial for the sustainable development of the community.

According to Vlora Spanca, the Head of the National Audit Office of Kosovo, the joint audit of Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania showed that all three governments have not done enough for the satisfactory inclusion of rural women in the labour market.

She sent a message to all officials responsible for gender equality to respect the results of this joint audit and take steps to improve the situation in the near future.

“This is an excellent opportunity to send a message about including women in the labour market, strengthening their position in society, and creating equal opportunities in the labour market. On this occasion, I send a message to senior officials responsible for gender quality and the economic empowerment of women, and their better inclusion in the labour market, to respect the results of our joint audit and take steps to improve the situation in the near future,” Spanca said before the start of the event.

She noted that the three state audit institutions of Kosovo, Macedonia, and Albania commit to working towards improving the sustainable development goals and the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations.

Before the event, the Alfred Zylfi, Director of Performance audit department, stated that the three audit teams presented their findings and highlighted the challenges faced by all three countries in this field.

“We worked to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal related to gender equality. All audit teams presented their findings and the positive aspects, as well as the challenges faced by all three countries in this field,” Zylfi said.

Photo: MIA