08 February 2012
Skopje
MECHANISMS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Mechanisms of Protection against Discrimination in the Republic of Macedonia was the theme of the round table held at the EU Info Center in Skopje within the Twinning project for support of the Macedonian Ombudsman, funded by European Union pre-accession funds (IPA) in which partners are the Spanish National Ombudsman and the Defender of the Rights of France.
“Particular importance has the fact that we’ll discuss about the basics of discrimination on which citizens complain most often and the reasons why citizens do not recognize all forms of discrimination present in our society because of which often they are not aware on the fact that they have been discriminated. "- said among other things in his welcoming speech the Ombudsman Mr. Ixhet Memeti.
According to the Deputy Ombudsman Mr. Dragi Celevski discrimination is present in all spheres of the society, especially on the basis of ethnicity and political beliefs.
"Because of this, besides consistent actions for detection and sanction of discrimination, there is a need for taking preventive activities too. In this context particularly important is application of informational and educational campaigns for rising of awareness with aim of consistent realization of the principle of equality of all citizens."- said Mr. Celevski.
Experience from work in the field of protection against discrimination of the French Ombudsman conveyed Ms. Nepheli Yatropoulos, representative of this institution. She, inter alia, informed that one of the goals in the work of her institution is constant development of new tools for communication and training of citizens to develop their awareness and familiarization with their rights so they can ask help whenever they are discriminated.
The President of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination Mr. Dusko Minovski said that the Commission received a total of 61 complaints and that complaints are mostly related to labor relations. According to him, in all cases for which the Commission has made recommendations, the authorities acted, except for one case which is still in a procedure.
At the round table participated representatives from the NGO sector too.