Persistent Exclusion: Roma Women’s Struggle for Equality in North Macedonia
The Case of Roma Women in North Macedonia presents a comprehensive examination of the discrimination and socio-economic challenges faced by Roma women—particularly those belonging to communities discriminated on work and descent (CDWD). It is authored by Fikrija Tair-Selmani and published by the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD), in partnership with The Inclusivity Project and ERGO Network.
The analysis draws attention to the multi-layered marginalisation of Roma women, rooted in both ethnic and gender-based discrimination. Despite constitutional recognition and international obligations, Roma women continue to face systemic barriers across critical sectors such as education, employment, healthcare, housing, and safety.
The education sector, while showing some progress through increased enrolment and reduced dropout rates, still reflects deep inequalities. Roma girls face segregation, discrimination by teachers and peers, and cultural pressures, leading to lower academic achievement. In higher education, Roma women remain severely underrepresented, with only 17 graduates in the 2023/24 academic year.
Employment indicators paint an alarming picture. With an employment rate of just 8%, Roma women are disproportionately affected by joblessness. Most are engaged in informal, insecure, or low-paying work. A lack of education and vocational training exacerbates their exclusion, as does limited access to information about employment opportunities.
Housing conditions remain dire. Many Roma communities reside in informal settlements with no legal ownership or basic services. Approximately 30% of Roma households are unlegalised and thus vulnerable to eviction. Despite efforts under the National Roma Strategy 2022–2030 and Poznan Declaration, meaningful improvements in housing have been minimal.
Healthcare access for Roma women is significantly below national standards. Barriers include distance, discrimination by medical personnel, lack of insurance, and exclusion from reproductive health services.
Alarmingly, 8.3% of Roma pregnancies occur without any medical check-ups. Efforts such as Roma health mediators and targeted NGO support exist but are underfunded and insufficient.
Domestic and gender-based violence is a critical issue. Roma women often lack the institutional trust and resources to report abuse. Social services and shelters are scarce, and there is inadequate representation of Roma professionals in social institutions. The murder of Ramajana Asan in 2025 highlighted the state's failure to protect Roma women despite prior warnings.
The report also critiques the ineffective implementation of policies and legal protections. While North Macedonia has laws addressing discrimination and gender-based violence, practical enforcement is lacking. Roma representation in government institutions is negligible, and mechanisms like the “balancer” tool have failed to ensure equitable employment.
Recommendations urge the state to strengthen data collection, ensure inclusive policy enforcement, improve infrastructure and service delivery in Roma settlements, and increase Roma women's participation in public life. Collaboration with civil society, international agencies, and Roma communities is deemed vital for sustainable change.
Also Read: Landmark Recognition for CDWD at UN Human Rights Council