The start of a new tradition: The first Human Rights Forum in the Republic of North Macedonia
The use of the World Café methodology helped facilitate a collaborative dialogue between diverse stakeholders and identified what is needed in order to better implement project aims.
On 26th March 2024, the first Human Rights Forum took place in Skopje as part of the EU-funded project “EU Support for Rule of Law in North Macedonia”. It was the first of several planned events that is exclusively tailored for Beneficiary Institutions in Human Rights Advocacy. Karin Bischof, expert in the field evaluation and participatory training methods, and Natasha Boshkova, expert on human rights education, facilitated a successful realisation.
The Forum’s aim was to collaboratively identify challenges and necessary improvements within the human rights protection system in North Macedonia. Approximately 30 stakeholders from various backgrounds came together to share their diverse insights and knowledge and thus enabled a rich exchange of ideas. A key element for the success of this gathering was the utilisation of the participatory World Café methodology. This approach provided a platform for open dialogue and collaboration and allowed the participants to engage deeply with one another.
One of the outcomes was the creation of practical guidelines to strengthen strategic cooperation among institutions and improve the human rights protection system. Similar events are planned for the future.
