Filed a motion for a mutual and responsible parenthood and divorce to MLSP

Yesterday (July 10, 2015) the initiative of the Group of Parents and the First Children

Embassy in the World – Megjashi officially filed for joint and responsible parenthood after

divorce to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia

To

The Office of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia,

Mr. Dime Spasov

and

The Department of Marriage and Family in the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the

Republic of Macedonia

Ms. Elka Todorova

Dear Mr. Spasov and Ms. Todorova,

As a result of the current practice in which after divorce the children are forced to stay with

only one parent and the other parent is allowed extremely reduced contact with his (her)

children, we began this initiative in order to reverse the current unsustainable situation. We

think it is absurd the state to limit the contact with our children although we want and we can

equally to perform our obligations as parents with full responsibility, as we used to while we

were married. Rather than protect the interests of children, with the current practice, children

have additionally increased difficulties – apart from accepting the separation of their parents,

the children have to adjust to the situation where one of their parents has to almost disappear

from their lives.

The model of equal parenting after divorce that we propose is a complete contrast to the

current practice where the children spend most of their time with one of their parents who

alone makes all major decisions for the children and the other parent's role consists in

occasional meetings with the children without to have any significant impact on their growth

and development.

The adoption of this proposal will bring multiple benefits for the society: growing healthy

generations of children who would continue to grow with both parents, using the capacities of

both parents and overtaking the separation of the parents easier;

- Equal status of both parents after divorce and a reference to a mutual agreement in the

interest of the children (the main reason for the low rate of contractual divorce until now is

the unequal position of parents – the parent who knows that she (he) will get the custody of

the children has no interest in contracts with the other parent and often use the children as a

means for dealing with the former partner);

- Faster and easier decision-making processes before the courts and the CSW, and thus free

up resources;

- Avoidance of discrimination and creating unhappy citizens;

Provided that this problem is getting bigger with the increasing number of divorces and now

a growing part of the population, we believe that the time has come to make the necessary

changes in order to protect the interests of the children first and to ensure equal achievement

of the parental rights and obligations after divorce. Underpinning this is the fact that this

initiative shortly received strong support from a wide range of people - parents (mothers and

fathers), professionals from various fields (lawyers, psychologists, pedagogues), the First

Children Embassy in the World, etc.

The draft amendment to the law that we supplied is the first draft version prepared in

consultation with professionals from various fields. We submit it to you first as a competent

Ministry, but we will deliver it to various other institutions that are concerned with this issue.

In the period of September / October we will organize a joint debate on which after the

proposal of change in the law we will spell as proposers professionals from various fields,

and of course you will be invited and you as legislators to expose your opinion. As a result of

that discussion the final version of the draft change of the law should arise.

We hope that your Ministry will stand behind this initiative and will propose the necessary

amendments to the Family Law before the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia.

Sincerely,

The Civic Initiative Group of Parents for Introducing Equal Parenting after Divorce

Representative

Naum Ribaroski

And

The First Children Embassy in the World - Megjashi

Executive Director and Founder

MA Dragi Zmijanac