Implementation issues

AuthorBiljana Kotevska
Pages68-70
68
8 IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
8.1 Dissemination of information, dialogue with NGOs and between social
partners
a) Dissemination of information about legal protection against discrimination (Article 10
Directive 2000/43 and Article 12 Directive 2000/78)
The trend noted in previous years continued in 2019. The main activities in relation to the
dissemination of in formation, including capacity building of institu tions, contin ued to be
organised and implemented by CSOs ( with the Network against Discrimination an d its
members leading most of the initiatives and th e Macedonian Young Lawyers Asso ciation
also being acti ve in brin ging cases t o court) an d by the OSCE Mission to Skopje (OSCE).
The activities regularly include the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MLSP) and the
Commission for Protection ag ainst Discrimination (CPAD, the former equality body ) as
partners/co-implementers (such as the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors and
law schools from across the country).
b) Measures to encourage dialogue with NGOs with a view to promoting the principle of
equal treatment (Article 12 Directive 2000/43 and Article 14 Directiv e 2000/78)
As reported in the 2017 and 2018 reports, following the app ointment of the new
Government, in Ju ne 2017, the climate for dialogue with NGOs rapidly changed. The
Government established a national coordinating body on equality and non-discrimination.
Several CSOs were invited to participate in the work of the body, by sending their
representatives. The Government published several calls for expressions of interest by
CSOs to take part in working groups. It has included CSOs and experts in working groups.
The new ADL was drafted by a working group that included representatives from the most
active CSOs working on equality issues, including those which provide free legal aid in
discrimination cases. The draft was presented to a debate to which many CSOs working on
equality issues were invited, although it shoul d be noted that this was again an ‘invitation
only’ event and there was no public announcement to enable all interest ed parties to join
the discussion. According to the organisers (the MLSP and the OSCE Mission t o Skopje),
this approach was chosen on the grounds of keeping the debate at an exp ert level.
In addition, there has still been no proper investigation an d prosecution of the attacks on
the LGBTI Support Centre. In operation since 2012, the centre provide s support to LGBTI
people and to their family and friends. It has been subject to attacks ever since it opened.
People working at the centre have been physically attacked and its offices have been
damaged several times. F ollowing one of the attacks, the centre had to cl ose down for
renovation for a period of time.260 No proper investigation and prosecution of the attackers
of the LGBTI centre has happened yet and no charges have been made, despite numerous
calls by CSOs, organised protests demanding action, the existence of video recordings in
which the attackers can easily be identified (available on YouTube) and calls by the
European Commission itself.261
c) Measures to promote dialogue between social partn ers to give effect to the principle
of equal treatment within workplace practices, codes of practice and workforce
monitoring (Article 11 Directive 2000/43 and Article 13 Directive 2000/78 )
The mechanism for social dialogue between social partners is the Economic and Social
Council (ESC). It consists of representatives from the Government, unions and the
260 For more on this, please see flash report: www.equalitylaw.eu/downloads/2177-mk-29-lgbti-centre-attacks-
no-reactions.
261 Network against Discrimination (2014), ‘Absence of reaction to series of attacks on the LGBTI Support
Centre’з available at: https://www.equalitylaw.eu/downloads/2177-mk-29-lgbti-centre-attacks-no-reactions.

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT