Online violence, hate speech, peer pressure and mental health risks are some of the challenges that young people face. The Center for Research and Policy Making is working with young people in 9 municipalities in the country, with the aim of raising awareness and preventing these phenomena.
"Young people today face more problems, because they are addicted to the use of technology, and it affects their way of communication, where they cannot express their feelings and emotions. Then it affects the relationships they create with each other, with friends, but also with their partners. Further, how they accept those who are different from them, but also the social phenomena of alcoholism and drug use," stated Marija Ristevska, Research Center.
Even representatives of the Ministry agree that these programs, through the active involvement of young people, can help young people learn to behave without violence and recognize harmful stereotypes.
"We are witnessing that young people today face many challenges, online violence, hate speech, peer pressure, mental health risks, toxic models of being male or female. Therefore, we need approaches that directly engage young people as active participants," said Mirjana Zllatanova, Representative of the Ministry of Education.
The Dutch Ambassador called on decision-making institutions to support civil society in these efforts and include them in the school curriculum.
"I would like to take this opportunity, and the momentum of the new strategy, and ask those who receive opinions to support civil society in these efforts, to welcome the results and include them in the school curriculum," said Ozlem Xhanel, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Skopje.
The Dutch ambassador said that in this way, European values, human rights and especially gender equality can be placed on the national agenda. /Alsat.mk
