The spouse of the president, Mrs. Elizabeta Gjorgievska, accompanying the President during his participation in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held several meetings and activities.
Ms. Gjorgievska had a meeting with Dianne Keita, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), whereby they exchanged opinions and information about the upcoming high-level conference, entitled “The Power of Choice: Bodily Autonomy in Women and girls”, which will be hosted by Mrs. Gjorgievska, in cooperation with UNFPA, and will be held under the auspices of the President, in October of this year.
The interlocutors agreed that the theme of the conference “The Power of Choice” is of great importance – the right of women and girls to have control over their bodies, health and reproductive rights. Ms. Keita welcomed Ms. Gjorgievska’s engagement on the issues UNFPA is working on, putting North Macedonia high on the map of countries that are active on this issue.
The spouse of the president also participated in the initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls within the framework of the Summit for the Sustainable Development Goals, where she emphasized that “violence against women must be ended, which practically denies millions of women and girls basic human rights and the opportunity to actively contribute to society and the community. Globally, one in three women is a victim of violence, and in the initiative’s estimates, by 2025, the lives of at least two women and girls would be saved every day. Such negative trends are not absent even in the Republic of North Macedonia, and therefore much more work and visible results are needed.”
Mrs. Gjorgievska also attended the reception organized by the first lady of the USA, Dr. Jill Biden, where she had a short meeting with Dr. Jill Biden, during which she informed her about the activities she is working on in cooperation with UNICEF and other partners, dedicated to mental health of young people and the need for greater care and systemic solutions from the competent stakeholders in maintaining mental health among young people.
The spouse of the president also had a short meeting with the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, during which they discussed the recently held Mental Health Summit in Kyiv, of which Mrs. Gjorgievska was also a part, and also reaffirmed the support for the efforts of the spouse of the Ukrainian president, in the context of the protection of children and their rights.
Additionally, during her stay in New York, Mrs. Gjorgievska gave two lectures for postgraduate students at Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine.
