UNICEF welcomes the adoption of the National Action Plan on Child Rights 2025-2029

Skopje, 15 August 2025: ”UNICEF welcomes the Government’s adoption of the National Action Plan on Child Rights 2025–2029 - a roadmap to translate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into concrete actions that benefit every child. 

“By adopting this document, the government commits to strengthen its efforts to protect, promote and respect the rights of every child in North Macedonia.

“UNICEF appreciates the specific commitments made by the Government to enhance prevention and response mechanisms to all forms of violence, abuse, and neglect; ensure equitable access to health services, mental health support, and early childhood development; promote inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, and empower children to express their views and influence decisions that affect them. 

“We also applaud the inclusion in the Plan of policy measures to reduce child poverty and improve access to basic social services without discrimination. The implementation of the European Child Guarantee specifically targeting child poverty and social exclusion, and the envisaged 15% increase in the cash benefits for children, can help address disparities among children. UNICEF expects these measures to contribute to greater social inclusion and equity among children.

“A major milestone in the Plan is the commitment to establish a National Committee on Child Rights. The creation of such permanent body with a mandate to coordinate all activities and monitor the country’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child was one of the key recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its 2022 Concluding Observations for North Macedonia. The establishment of the body and the adoption of the national action plan fulfill important EU accession benchmarks set in the Rule of Law Roadmap of the country.

“UNICEF encourages the authorities to ensure the Plan is more than a piece of paper and that it receives needed resources for its full implementation. We remain committed to supporting the Government and partners as they bring this Plan to life. Together, we can ensure that every child in the country enjoys their rights, grows in an environment of opportunity and dignity, and contributes to building a just and inclusive society for all.”