STRENGTHENING THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE OMBUDSMAN, UNDP AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION

24.09.2024, SKOPJE

The Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of North Macedonia, in cooperation with the UNPD - the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society organizations dedicated to the protection of the environment and human rights, organized a workshop, at which, among other things, they signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.

According to the Ombudsman, Mr. Naser Ziberi, this joint project represents a big and significant step in the work of the Institution when it comes to the environment, because the support from both UNDP and non-governmental organizations is an important factor. "We all know that the NGO sector is an important link in the cooperation with the Ombudsman, due to the possibility to collect data with the help of these organizations, which are then translated into special reports and research as an important segment of our work," said the Ombudsman, Mr . Naser Ziberi.

UNDP Permanent Representative, Mr. Armen Grigorian said, "This will create a permanent framework for joint action, knowledge sharing and enhanced advocacy for human rights in the environment." I believe that civil society organizations together with the media will be a driving force when it comes to environmental justice."

At the round table "Increasing cooperation between the Ombudsman and civil society organizations for environmental justice", Tatiana Temelkoska, advisor for human rights at the OHCHR, addressed the attendees. According to Temelkovska, "Cooperation and joint action are crucial in areas that are dynamically developing at the global level, such as environmental justice and climate change, because it is a matter of multiple human rights violations that affect current and future generations."

Otherwise, this workshop is part of the project "Increasing the Role of the Ombudsman in environmental justice", which is financed by the UNDP Global Program for Strengthening the Rule of Law and is implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Ombudsman of North Macedonia, OHCHR and GANHRI.