Human Rights in Macedonia

Macedonia has not developed the way many had hoped for. The country has still not met the necessary requirements for beginning negotiations for EU membership. The reasons for this are many but the unsolved name issue with Greece and the failure to include the large Albanian minority further in society are strong contributing factors.

Struggling for a free legal aid system – in cooperation with Macedonian Young Lawyers’ Association

Through our cooperation with Macedonian Young Lawyers’ Association, we want contribute to the adoption of the best anti-discrimination policies, practices and standards possible within the judicial system in Macedonia. This will be done through strategic litigation.

Supporting a Professional Education in Journalism – in cooperation with Macedonian Institute for Media

For the past three years we have assisted the Macedonian Institute for Media, MIM, a training centre for journalists and media professionals, in educating a considerable number of journalists through their One Year Diploma Program in Journalism. In addition to supporting the education of a new generation of journalists in Macedonia, our purpose of cooperating with MIM has been to try to establish a professional self sustainable school of journalism.

Enabling Roma communities to access basic human rights – in cooperation with ARKA

The main objective of our cooperation with the organisation ARKA is to register, and provide identification documents, to around 300 Roma individuals in Skopje, Kumanovo, Kratovo, and Kriva Palanka regions. The registration will give them access to basic human rights; such as the right to education, health care, social allowances, as well as the possibility to get a legal employment and the right to vote in general elections.

Improving accountability of duty holders – in cooperation with Macedonian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights

We have cooperated with the Macedonian Helsinki Committee for more than a decade, with the main focus to enhance awareness and respect for human rights and the rule of law in Macedonia. By providing free legal aid we not only improve people’s access to justice but also monitor the respect of human rights by authorities, and put pressure on authorities to comply with international and national human rights standards.

Strengthening the judiciary – in cooperation with Coalition All for Fair Trials

The overall aim of our cooperation with the Coalition for All Fair Trials is to strengthen the independency, efficiency and impartiality of the judiciary in Macedonia. The Coalition will measure whether there is an improvement in the implementation of the existing laws and how efficient the legal procedure in the judiciary is.