NGO asks builders to make all new buildings accessible

Public institutions and private buildings in North Macedonia still leave many people with disabilities without adequate access, and local campaigners say the gap must be closed at the planning and construction stages.

The humanitarian association Podaj Raka has launched an initiative asking construction companies to ensure that every newly built facility includes accessibility features for people with disabilities.

Practical change from the foundation

According to advocates, access elements such as ramps, lifts and accessible entrances are not extras but fundamental rights. "A ramp, an elevator or an accessible entrance are not a privilege, but a basic human right," the association says, urging builders to factor accessibility into designs rather than add it later.

Campaigners point out that obstacles are not limited to the built environment. Many people with disabilities live on low monthly incomes and social allowances that barely cover basic needs, which compounds exclusion and limits mobility.

Where public bodies fail to provide services, civic groups try to fill the gap. Podaj Raka organises activities to help people with disabilities leave everyday isolation, including organised holidays and social gatherings; the association is also preparing a new action to hand out a backpack for every child.

"People with disabilities do not ask for anything special, only equal conditions for life. To be able to move freely with appropriate ramps and conditions and the possibility for a normal life," adds Petanchevski, summarising the demand behind the initiative and calling on construction firms and planners to act now.

Photo: press material from the event