North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski accompanied an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome who had been bullied to school in the city of Gostivar. The small one Embla Ademi, a spokesman for the presidency explained, had suffered attacks precisely because of her condition.
Pendarovski was entertained with the parents of the child to whom he also brought gifts. The Macedonian head of state inquired about the little girl’s daily problems and what her family has to face every day. “The behavior of those who endanger children’s rights is unacceptable, especially when it comes to children with atypical development,” the office of Pendarovski stressed. “Not only must they be able to enjoy their rights, but they must feel welcome in the banks and in the schoolyard. Ensuring this is our duty as a state and as individuals and a key element in achieving this is empathy.” “Prejudices – declared the president – are the biggest obstacle in building an egalitarian and just society for all”. “There is also a legal and moral obligation to provide inclusive education that focuses on encouraging the skills of children of varying degrees of development.”