UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD Mechanisms (M) M1 – A national mechanism implements and reports on outstanding international human rights commitments in an integrated and participatory manner. OHCHR supported the creation and enhanced functionality of the two key national human rights mechanisms, which were established in 2018, by facilitating learning and the transfer of knowledge regarding engagement with the international human rights mechanisms. Following consistent advocacy unnecessary undertaken by OHCHR and its partners during the reporting period, the Parliament approved the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) and established the Permanent Human Rights Secretariat as the mechanism for the coordination and monitoring of the Plan’s implementation. The NHRAP was developed by taking into account the recommendations issued by the UPR in 2016 and those issued by several treaty bodies and special procedures in 2017. Staff members from the Permanent Secretariat Directorate, which hosts the Permanent Human Rights Secretariat and other human rights-related bodies that are within the State Chancellery, were trained by OHCHR on human rights monitoring mechanisms and the implementation of their recommendations. 290 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD Development (D) D8 – Data on education, employment and justice are more consistently available; they are disaggregated by disability status and type. The Office contributed to examining the level of compliance of legislation/policy with international human rights norms and standards and producing disaggregated data on the rights of those left behind in the Republic of Moldova. In December, the Human Right s Perception Study was completed and launched with the support of OHCHR. The study provided an assessment tool to determine the extent to which human rights are being respected, protected and fulfilled in the Republic of Moldova. Compared with its 2016 predecessor, the research was focused also on disaggregating data on perceptions on the rights of persons with disabilities, LGBTI persons, religious minorities, Roma people, people living in rural areas, persons living with HIV, ethno-linguistic minorities and non-citizens. The findings of the research will serve as a roadmap in shaping human rights interventions in accordance with the needs of the rights holders. In addition, OHCHR worked towards promoting a more inclusive and non-discriminatory national media narrative under the Non-Discrimination pillar. During the reporting period, the NMRF began to strengthen its capacity for consultations with relevant partners. With OHCHR’s support, the NMRF Secretariat created a civil society contact list and facilitated meaningful consultations with civil society organizations for the preparation of the national report for the third UPR cycle, due in October, as well as for the overdue combined third, fourth, fifth and sixth State Party report to CRC which was finalized for submission in early 2019. After the CEDAW and CRPD considerations, NMRF disseminated their concluding observations and included them in the Recommendations Implementation Plan, which the NMRF maintains since 2016. REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA Population size1 Surface area1 Human Development Index2 NHRI (if applicable)3 2.09 million 26,000 km² 0.757 (rank: 81/188 in 2016) Status B, 2011 Type of engagement Human Rights Adviser Year established 2007 Field office(s) Skopje UN partnership framework United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2016-2020 Staff as of 31 December 2018 1 Key OMP pillars in 2018 123 Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.191. KEY PILLAR RESULTS: Non-Discrimination (ND) Mechanisms (M) M2 – Civil society organizations engage systematically with the international human rights mechanisms. The Office significantly contributed to the substantial increase in the level of engagement of civil society organizations with the international human rights mechanisms through consistent capacity-building and advocacy efforts. Building on the OHCHR capacity-building efforts during the previous OHCHR Management Plan 2014-2017, unprecedented progress was achieved in the level of engagement of national civil society with the international human rights mechanisms in 2018. Compared to previous years, triple the number of civil society public submissions were made in anticipation of the 2018 reviews of North Macedonia by CEDAW, CRPD and in the context of the third UPR cycle, in January 2019. The number of joint submissions by participating organizations tripled as well. More specifically, 26 national civil society organizations and networks prepared 14 joint submissions. The submissions focused on concerns of those “left behind” - Roma women, sex workers and women farmers. The CEDAW and CRPD recommendations that were issued in November and September 2018, respectively, fully reflected the views of the civil society organizations, creating a solid basis for their further advocacy, programming and follow-up. M1 – The National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMRF) regularly gathers and disseminates information for purposes of reporting and implementation, and uses information management tools effectively. OHCHR supported the NMRF in ensuring the participation of civil society in the preparation of the State reports to the international human rights mechanisms. Shifts: Civic Space ND1 – The anti-discrimination and the gender equality laws are aligned with the international human rights standards and ensuring effective protection against all forms of discrimination. OHCHR contributed to the increased compliance of draft legislation on prevention and protection against discrimination with international human rights standards by providing expert legal advice and advocating for compliance with the recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms. The draf t Law on Prevention and Protection against Discrimination reached Parliament adoption procedures in June. The draft has incorporated comments made by OHCHR, civil society, regional organizations and followed up on the recommendations from the UPR, CESCR, CERD and the Human Rights Committee. The text was aligned with human rights standards although it failed to explicitly recognize gender-based violence against Inequalities UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 291