Skopje, 16 July 2021 (MIA) — The Macedonian Women's Lobby, the National Council for Gender Equality, and various other women's organizations have publicly requested parliamentary political parties nominate more women for mayor. “It is time women were given a chance to compete for the opportunity to be elected ‘mothers’ of their municipalities,” they write. “In line with the principles of democracy, representation is fundamental both as a value and as a mechanism for equality,” the gender equality lobbyists say, urging parliamentary parties to fulfill the promises they gave in their “adopted documents and declarations on the promotion of women candidates for mayor in the next local elections.” Expressing their hope that candidates’ campaigns will not be smeared by sexism and hate speech against women, the lobbyists call on parties to nominate women whose “political platforms will take into account the needs of both women and men in our cities and villages.” "For us, democracy and human rights are the highest values, and women should fully participate in all processes, both natural and societal,” reads the press release from the National Council for Gender Equality. mr/