Briefing Paper for Expert Consultation on Issues Related to Minorities and the Denial or Deprivation of Citizenship, 6-7 December 2007, Convened by the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues

Claude Cahn and Sebihana Skenderovska

I. Introduction

A number of large forces in Europe have in recent years weakened the power of the nation-state in Europe and/or given rise to competing trans-national authorities, particularly the European Union. Although extensive efforts have been made to link these practices to fundamental human rights or to the rights of European citizens – and indeed many hundreds of thousands of Europeans have benefited from these developments –, in practice a number of persons with genuine effective links to one or more European states are precluded from full and effective citizenship in all or any European states or polities. Many may even lack the recognized citizenship of any country. This exclusion is frequently on grounds of ethnicity or perceived race. Roma – a stigmatized, pariah minority – are particularly affected. Exclusion from the polity can and frequently does give rise to expulsion or threat of expulsion from country.

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Report

MAC 029
National Roma Centrum
Campaign for Roma education

Preparation period

The National Roma Centrum began with realization of the project in February 2007. During the first two months were the preparations for the planned activities, with which we created foundations for their successful realization.

Changes in the Law for elementary education - The preparations were in following of the changes in the law for elementary education, changes with introducing nine years elementary education, analyses of the previous year which would be useful in preparation of implementing plans as pointers for further actions.

List of Roma families for comparison and analyses - Considering the fact that we in 2006 had already visited the Roma families in Skopje, Prilep and Kumanovo we prepared the list of the Roma in these three cities and we prepared it for comparison with the new data which should arrive in the period June – September.

Meetings with the implementation team - We organized meetings with the team which will be included in he project activities in order to determine the obligations, as well as to set up the foundation for the realization of the idea.

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Foreword

In thousands of languages, in the most diverse climes, from century to century, beginning with the very old stories told around the hearth in the huts of our remote ancestors down to the works of modern storytellers which are appearing at this moment in the publishing houses of the great cities of the world, it is the story of the human condition that is being spun and that men never weary of telling to one another. The manner of telling and the form of the story vary according to periods and circumstances, but the taste for telling and retelling a story remains the same: the narrative flows endlessly and never runs dry. Thus, at times, one might almost believe that from the first dawn of consciousness throughout the ages, mankind has constantly been telling itself the same story, though with infinite variations, to the rhythm of its breath and pulse.

Ivo Andric’s speech
at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1961

And we might say our story to speak in the name of all those who did not have the ability or who, crushed by life, did not have the power to express themselves, we are storytellers for Roma reality in Macedonia, the aim of these stories is to throw some light on the dark paths through which NRC as voice of the Roma is highlightening, the path that leads to equal Roma participation as other Macedonian citizens.

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Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

1. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the initial report of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/MKD/1) at its 42nd, 43rd and 44th meetings, held on 13 and 14 November 2006 (E/C.12/2006/SR.42-44), and adopted, at its 56th meeting held on 22 November 2006, the following concluding observations.

A. INTRODUCTION

2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the initial report, albeit late, of the State party which was prepared in conformity with the Committee’s guidelines, and of the written replies to its list of issues.
3. The Committee welcomes the open and constructive dialogue with the delegation of the State party, which included a number of experts from various Government departments, as well as the detailed, well-structured and frank answers to the questions asked by the Committee.

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National Roma Centrum Kumanovo

Free legal aid

Narrative report

01.January 2006 - 31.October 2006

Activities were realized by:

• Asmet Elezovski – coordinator
• Nikola Dzimrevski - legal adviser
• Katerina Spasevska - legal adviser
• Ljatif Demirovski - assistant

Short review of project’s activities

Work of the Office for free legal aid

In the past period of 10 months in the office were prepared files for judicial and administrative bodies and organizations with public empowerment. Legal advices and instructions for the citizens regarding exercising of basic human rights were provided in very large number. From the beginning of the year till 31.10.2006, between 2 000 and 2 500 citizens have visited the office for free legal aid, which is indicating the importance of the office when many citizens are social cases and persons which do not have income under any basis, and are included in one of the project’s groups. Of immense importance for realization of project’s activities is the increased cooperation between NRC on one hand, and on the other well cooperation with certain institutions of public character as Ombudsman’s Office is, administrative bodies and organizations as Center for social work, Ministry of Interior - Department for Interior Affairs Kumanovo, certain municipality authorities, these cooperations are product of well functioning of the office. Mediation between the official bodies, organizations and citizens is evident parallel with the development of the cooperation especially with administrative bodies while certain rights guaranteed with current legal regulative are concerned. All stated activities are related with direct realization of citizen’s rights in front of relevant institutions. Mentioned activities realized by NRC under the project “Free legal aid,” were accomplished without any bigger obstacles, and with much bigger efficiency and increased confidence among the citizens, as outcome of effective work of the office. Activities related with education were realized during October, when we thought it is appropriate. Education has indirect influence on accomplishing of citizens rights, and is of immense importance representing preventive action for reducing human rights violations and defeating their practical realization. Educational activities are related with distribution of brochures regarding social protection rights, and direct meetings with citizens, as mentioned above topics were civil rights and methods for accomplishing in front of the institutions, as well as for institutional structure in Republic of Macedonia. (more…)

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