Skopje, 5 March 2025 (MIA) — Young Roma women should dream big dreams, achieve their goals, and change the situation in the country and in the world, said Shaban Saliu, Minister for Integration and Implementation of the Roma Inclusion Strategy 2022-2030, at Wednesday's panel dedicated to Roma women's rights and career opportunities.

"Roma women are active in all social spheres – in culture, business, politics, the civil sector," Saliu said, adding that many Roma women were doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and activists.

"Their successes are the result of great effort, dedication and sacrifice, as they have often faced challenges not only in broader society but also within their own community," the government minister added.

He said the government remained committed to implementing the national Roma Inclusion Strategy 2022-2030, focusing on the empowerment of women in the Roma community.

"We believe that through education, economic empowerment and support for their rights, we can build a more just and equal society for all," Saliu said, claiming that the situation of Roma women would progressively improve.

Vesna Ivanovikj Castarede, UN Women Head of Office in North Macedonia, noted that women still faced many challenges and inequality in society.

She added that the aim of the panel was to highlight the role of women from the Roma community and recognize their valuable contributions.

She also said UN Women continued to work to break down barriers and stereotypes that stand in the way of Roma women fully participating in society.

Speaking of societal problems Roma women encountered, she added that it was important to propose solutions to these problems and to present success stories of other Roma women as motivation.

"Through successful examples, we motivate and encourage other women to share their voices and opinions in shaping a future where all women and girls will have the same opportunities.

"It all starts with ourselves," she said, adding that stereotypes and prejudice needed to first be "shattered in our own mind first of all, then in our homes, in our neighborhoods" so that the barriers of discrimination could be removed from society at large.

The event, titled "Roma Women's Voices: From Challenges to Successes,” was organized by the government in cooperation with UN Women North Macedonia.

It featured panelists Mersiha Usein, Nedzhmie Saitova, Sevdija Abdulova, Bajsa Arifovska, Ines Amet and Sarita Jasharova. 

They spoke about their achievements and the problems they faced, so as to inspire the younger generation of Roma women to aspire to greater inclusion in society, organizers said. mr/