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Macedonian Platform Against Poverty demands urgent national strategy
The Macedonian Platform Against Poverty (MPP) has issued an open letter to the North Macedonian government, demanding an urgent national strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion. The platform highlighted that approximately 22 percent of citizens live below the poverty line, with 29.5 percent of children facing income poverty and 38 percent experiencing multidimensional poverty.
Key demands from the civil sector include the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, the introduction of a universal child benefit, and the development of social services such as expanded access to kindergartens and elderly care. The platform also emphasized the need to include housing as a fundamental human right within social policies to prevent homelessness.
Data shows a significant gap between North Macedonia and European Union standards. While 88 percent of EU households with children receive child or family benefits, only 19 percent of similar households in North Macedonia receive such support. Additionally, the lack of childcare infrastructure is noted to disproportionately affect women, with more than half of the working-age female population classified as economically inactive due to unpaid care responsibilities.
Entities
European Union · Government of North Macedonia · Macedonian Platform Against Poverty · North Macedonia · UNICEF
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The platform demands a comprehensive national strategy against poverty by 2050. trn.mk · 360stepeni.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 22 percent of Macedonian citizens live below the poverty line. trn.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] 29.5 percent of children in North Macedonia are at risk of income poverty. trn.mk · pari.com.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Only 19 percent of households with children in North Macedonia receive child and family benefits. trn.mk · pari.com.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Macedonian Platform Against Poverty sent an open letter to the government on October 17. trn.mk · 360stepeni.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The platform calls for the implementation of a universal child benefit. pari.com.mk · 360stepeni.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Reforming cash benefits could reduce child poverty by up to six percentage points. pari.com.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] 38 percent of children face multidimensional poverty. trn.mk · pari.com.mk