The rights of the child are a central component of North Macedonia’s international human rights obligations and are increasingly positioned as a benchmark for democratic governance and institutional reform within the country’s EU accession process. As a candidate country, North Macedonia is expected to ensure full compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its Optional Protocols, as well as to demonstrate measurable progress in this area under Chapter 23—Judiciary and Fundamental Rights of the EU acquis. Simultaneously, during the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the country received several detailed recommendations to strengthen legal protections, ensure implementation, and address systemic gaps in child rights.
This paper examines the extent to which the country has aligned its child rights framework with the UPR recommendations and the European Commission’s 2024 Progress Report, with particular focus on the progress in strengthening its legal, policy, and institutional systems. The analysis pays specific attention to issues of access, equity, and protection—particularly for children from marginalised and vulnerable groups—while identifying key areas where implementation remains partial, fragmented, or delayed.
The analysis follows the thematic clusters outlined in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s reporting guidelines, offering a structured and comparative assessment. Each section begins with a summary of relevant recommendations from the UPR and the EU Progress Report, which serve as reference points for evaluating the current state of implementation. The key thematic areas covered include the following:
- General Measures of Implementation, focusing on the ratification of international instruments, national strategies, coordination mechanisms, and the role of independent institutions;
- Civil Rights and Freedoms, with an emphasis on birth registration;
- Violence Against Children, including strategic frameworks, harmful practices, and institutional protection mechanisms;
- Education, covering inclusivity, desegregation, legal reforms, and the development of vocational education and training; and
- Special Protection Measures, addressing trafficking and justice for children.
The paper aims to provide both a factual account and a critical analysis of national developments in these areas. It highlights progress, identifies structural and operational challenges, and proposes practical recommendations to support stronger alignment with the UPR and EU requirements.