In 2023, CCG, in partnership with Search for Common Ground, started the Project: “Enhancing women to promote peace and security by increasing awareness about gender-based violence and violent extremism in North Macedonia”. The overall goal of the project is to empower local women to promote peace and security by increasing awareness about gender-based violence and violent extremism in North Macedonia.
The first project’s objective is to strengthen the capacity of local women leaders to collaborate across divides to advance the WPS agenda and address challenges specific to women’s conflict-related and post-conflict needs, including GBV and VE at the local and national levels of governance.
The second objective is to support women leaders and local CSOs in implementing initiatives to execute priority components of the Collaborative Action Plans on WPS, through technical and financial assistance.
The project is implemented in five-target local multiethnic municipalities on the territory of North Macedonia: Skopje-Cair, Gostivar, Kichevo, Struga and Prilep, multiethnic municipalities where CCG has established Community Action Teams (CATs) that are local tasks forces for the prevention of violent extremism on the local level. They are unique local structures with members from different stakeholders (representatives from the local government, state educational and social institutions, religious communities, youth and CSOs) which support the implementation of the National Strategy for P/CVE on the local level.
Training of Trainers
The Training for Trainers took place in Ohrid, from 13-15 December 2023. Thirteen highly experienced local women-leaders from the five target municipalities (Skopje-Cair, Prilep, Gostivar, Kicevo and Struga) took active participation on the training, covering a spectrum of crucial topics such as gender-based violence, rejudices, stereotypes, and their connection to violent extremism, leading to a comprehensive review of existing national policies and strategies, Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
Follow up trainings
Following the Training of Trainers, five (5) follow up trainings took place in the period from February to April 2024, actively engaging almost 100 youth aged 15 to 29 from the five project municipalities. The trainings delved into complex issues such as gender-based violence (GBV) and violent extremism (VE), aiming to raise awareness and empower youth to become agents of change in their communities. Interactive discussions, group activities, and real-life case studies were utilized to facilitate meaningful dialogue and critical thinking among participants, with emphasis on practical application and participants tasked with developing action plans tailored to address GBV and VE within their local contexts.
Sub Grantees Activities
Under the WPS project, 5 small grants were awarded to 5 local organizations:
- ADAY – Prilep,
- Psychea – Kicevo,
- Komunikim – Cair,
- Socio – Gostivar and
- Fresh News 22 – Struga.
Their activities were aimed towards strengthening of the capacities of the local women-leaders and local organizations for active participation in influencing the local communities towards raising the awareness for gender based violence and violent extremism, increasing involvement of the local organizations in creating policies for combating gender based violence, monitoring and evaluating the situation in the local communities related to gender based violence, implementing joint initiatives in collaboration with the local self-government.
Their implemented activities can be followed on their respective FB pages.