”Select ALL” e-Accessibility Assessment Report for South Eastern Europe
Macedonia Background Institutions and Programmes Macedonia adopted in 2010 a National Strategy on Equality of Rights of People with Disabilities 2010-2018, and an Action Plan has since been approved. It falls under the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. There is criticism, however, regarding the pace of progress. The European Commission 57 Progress Report 2010 for instance noted Overall, the absence of a resolute and coordinated approach continues to limit the effectiveness of the rights of people with disabilities, such as their access to health and special care and their social integration. Preparations in this area are at an early stage. This is reinforced in the 2011 Progress Report produced in October: “Implementation of the 58 national strategy on equality of rights of people with disabilities 2010-2018 has not progressed.”
The UNCRPD Macedonia is the most recent of the countries in the region to ratify the UNCRPD. Signed in July 2007, it was ratified by parliament in December 2011. The Optional Protocol was signed in July 2009, and has not yet been ratified. The focal point has not yet been identified. The NGO Open the Windows, in cooperation with the Centre for Society Orientation from Serbia, has already published an easy-to-read version of the 59 UNCRPD in Macedonian.
ICT Training and Other Initiatives The National Strategy for e-Inclusion 2011–2014 (under the Ministry of Information Society and Administration) is pursuing several developments in this area. The Strategy has been approved and budgets are in place. In compliance with the strategy, Macedonia already has 22 public cybercafés spread throughout the country that offer free Internet access to the public. Under the Strategy, each of these centres will be provided with Assistive Technology packages that include a Braille keyboard, joysticks, screen readers and other components. These will be attached to a dedicated computer, set aside for the priority use of more marginalized groups including people with disabilities and older people. (Older people will have exclusive use at certain times.) Printers are also available. The cybercafés are also being upgraded to provide a better learning environment and tools. In all, the plan is to disseminate 100 Assistive Technology packages, the remaining 82 to selected schools. 70
57 See: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2010/package/mk_rapport_2010_en.pdf p. 53. 58 See http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2011/package/mk_rapport_2011_en.pdf p. 54. 59 You can see the English Language version at http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wor/uncon/un-agree.pdf