ASSESSING INSTITUTIONAL DATA COLLECTION PRACTICES FOR EQUALITY AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

This paper examines the extent to which public institutions in the Republic of North Macedonia collect, disaggregate, and manage data relevant for measuring discrimination and promoting equality. Drawing on data collected through a questionnaire administered to 1,445 public institutional information holders, of which 363 responded (25.12%), the paper evaluates two main components: (1) whether institutions are legally authorized to collect data directly for measuring discrimination or collect data that can be repurposed for this goal, and (2) how this practice aligns with national and international principles and standards for equality data collection.  

International framework, predominantly under the United Nations, Council of Europe and the European Union, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the European Convention on Human Rights, the EU primary and secondary law such as the Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the anti-discrimination and gender equality directives, establish obligations for comprehensive and disaggregated data collection systems aiming to identify unequal treatment and ensure design of an effective anti-discrimination measures. Similarly to the international standards, the national legislation, particularly the 2020 Law on Prevention and Protection from Discrimination (LPPD) and the 2012 Law on Equal Opportunities between Women and Men, mandates the collection and presentation of data according to discriminatory grounds.   

According to the findings from the filed-study conducted with a representative sample of public institutions, while 69% of surveyed institutions are authorized to collect relevant data, only a minority of them systematically collect such data, especially with regard to intersectionality, when two or more discriminatory grounds intersect each other (for example when ethnicity intersect gender, or disability with residential status or age with religion). Most of the collected data in North Macedonia are divided by gender and ethnicity, with limited collection on grounds such as gender identity or political belief. The majority of institutions do not share data with relevant national human rights institutions, and a significant share lack clarity about their legal duty.  

The paper concludes with policy recommendations for improving equality data systems to support evidence-based discrimination prevention and equality promotion. The text uses results from research and surveys that have been conducted in the country and abroad as an illustration of trends and patterns.