In a new episode of our introduction series, we are pleased to present you another PhD student that will join Rights-To-Unite project in January 2025 – Dragana Drndarevska from North Macedonia.
My name is Dragana Drndarevska and currently I am a commissioner in the national equality body,
Commission for prevention and protection from discrimination. I hold a Bachelor degree in law and
Master degree in International public law and international relations from University St Cyril and
Methodius in North Macedonia.
I have an extensive experience in human rights advocacy in the area of non-discrimination, gender
equality, LGBTI rights and sexual and reproductive rights of marginalized populations. I have held several
roles in civil society organizations, working as a legal advisor and advocacy expert by providing legal
counseling to marginalized groups, conducting socio-legal research, and drafting policies and legislation
related to equality and non-discrimination.
My academic interest is in the field of equality law and feminist political philosophy, gender relations,
social theory, and the complex intersections of gender with other forms of social inequality, such as
class, race, and nation. My master degree is a critique of European antidiscrimination law through the
lance of socialist feminist approaches of gender equality and LGBTI rights.
Within the Rights to unite project I will do a PhD on The Role of EU Anti-Discrimination Rights in
Enhancing Roma Women’s Capabilities: A Comparative Analysis between EU Member States and
Accession Candidate States. I’m excited to be working across both Dublin and Prague, with my PhD co-
mentored by University College Dublin and Charles University.
My PhD proposal examines the potential of EU anti-discrimination rights to enhance the capabilities of
Roma women in Europe, comparing an EU member state, the Czech Republic, with an accession
candidate, North Macedonia. Using a capabilities approach, it conceptualizes rights not only as formal
legal provisions but as mechanisms that enable and hinder people’s ability to achieve valued life
outcomes. The research draws on socialist feminist theory and intersectionality to frame how gender
inequality and racial discrimination intersect within the EU’s legal and policy structures.
Central to the investigation is the role of different governance modes—EU-level laws, national policies,
and mixed governance strategies—in determining the practical impact of these rights. My research will
explore whether the structures through which rights are enforced affect their ability to enhance Roma
women’s capabilities. The findings aim to identify conditions under which governance mechanisms
effectively support Roma women’s empowerment and integration, ultimately offering policy
recommendations that enhance anti-discrimination frameworks for marginalized communities across
diverse EU governance landscapes.
I’m truly excited to begin my PhD research and to actively contribute to the ambitious goals of the Rights
To Unite project. I look forward to the impactful and innovative outcomes this project will achieve in
shaping a rights-based theory of European integration.
Dragana will be officially introduced at our hybrid project launch which takes place on 8 November, for which registrations are still open via Eventbrite for both, in person & online attendance.
