Skopje, 25 November 2022 (MIA) - The preparation of the new Strategy on Demographic Policies of North Macedonia was the main topic discussed during Friday’s meeting between the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Jovana Trenchevska, senior adviser on economics and demography at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Michael Herrmann and head of the UNFPA Office in Skopje, Afrodita Šalja. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, this strategy is of great importance as a document that identifies priority areas and directions for improving existing demographic trends by implementing long-term policies and areas of action that directly and indirectly affect demographic development in the country. Minister Trenchevska said that in the preparation of the strategy, the data from all the ministries will be of great importance, because it is a national strategy and all areas are important. “The analysis from the population census and the analysis on which a consultant hired by the UNFPA Office is working to conduct a review of the implementation of the national Strategy on Demographic Policies 2015-2024, which includes the Labour Ministry’s department for analysis, planning and development of demographic policies, will be a significant input for preparing the strategy. It should be aligned with the National Development Strategy and the Human Capital Development Strategy,” reads the press release. Minister Trenchevska noted that the final result is the preparation of a strategy based on real demographic data, such as data on migration, population aging, birth rate, and which will provide real guidelines in building policies that relate to the entire population in the country. Policies that refer to health, education, social and child protection, social services, employment, gender equality in all spheres of society. The final document of the Strategy on Demographic Policies should be adopted by the Government including the conclusions and tasks for all institutions.