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.

Monthly activities

January

January 2006
Submitted Date Total
Appeals
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 13th
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 19th
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 29th
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 29th
Appeal

Court of Appeals - Skopje through Primary Court - Kumanovo

 25th
Total No. 5
Proposals
Proposal

Proposal for discharge of court taxes to Primary Court - Kumanovo
Total No 1
Claims
Claims to Center for social work – Kumanovo All for single financial aid 10
Claim to the Ministry of Education and Science 1
Claim to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy 1
Statement to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy 1
Total No 13
Total No submits in January 19
Legal advices are given in indefinite number
In January total 19 submits were prepared and large number of legal advices were given, but still January is month of holidays, and citizens were visiting our office mainly in the middle of the month when institutions began to work intensively. In the first month of the year mainly people under social protection were asking for free legal aid, these cases were related with claims to take action and procedure in front of the Center for social work as well as appeals in primary level related with already brought decisions by the same Center to the Ministry of labour and social policy.

February

February 2006
Subject Submitted Date Total
Complaints
Complaint for divorce Primary Court Kumanovo 23th
Complaint for divorce Primary Court Kumanovo 24th
Complaint for assessment of parenthood Primary Court Kumanovo 23th
Total No 3
Appeals
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 6th
Appeal

Court of Appeals - Skopje through Primary Court - Kumanovo

 7th
Appeal

Court of Appeals - Skopje through Primary Court - Kumanovo

 24th
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 27th
Total No 4
Claims
Claims to Center for social work for single financial aid 19
Claim to the Fond for retirement pensions and insurance for people with disabilities of Republic of Macedonia - Department Skopje 1
Claim to the Ministry of Interior of R.M. for issue of confirmation for former labour relation 1
Claim to the Fond for retirement pensions and insurance for people with disabilities of Republic of Macedonia - Department Kumanovo 1
Supplication to Public Enterprise for plumbing 1
Supplication to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of R.M 1
Total No 24
Notifications
Criminal suit for nonpayment of alimony

Primary Court Kumanovo

 21th 1
Total No 1
Proposals
Proposal for postponement of prison sentence

Primary Court Kumanovo

 1st 1
Special proposal for liberation of court taxes

Primary Court Kumanovo

 1st 1
Proposal for accomplishment of monetary claim

Primary Court Kumanovo

 14th 1
Proposal for accomplishment of monetary claim

Primary Court Kumanovo

 17th 1
Total No proposals 4
Total Nosubmits 36
Legal advices are given in indefinite number
In February total 36 submits are prepared, from which 10 for court institutions, the rest are for administrative institutions, 19 for the Center for social work, 2 to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the others to different bodies and institutions. In February most of submits are prepared for citizens asking to protect certain social right or are involved in procedure in front of administrative body.

March

March 2005
Subject Submitted Date Total
Complaints
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 3th 1
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 21th 1
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 30th 1
Total No 3
Appeals
Appeal

Court of Appeals - Skopje through Primary Court I Skopje

 21th 1
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work

27th 1
Total No 2
Claims
Claims to Center for social work 33
Claim to the Ministry of Labour and Social work 1
Supplication to Public Enterprise for plumbing 3
Claim to the Municipality of Kumanovo 1
Total No 38
Proposals
Proposal for bargain divorce Primary Court Kumanovo 2nd 1
Special proposal for liberation of court taxes 3th 1
Total No 2
Total No subjects for March 45
Legal advices are given in indefinite number
In March total number of submits is 45, from which 6 are related with court institutions, 33 are related with citizens under social protection in order to realize certain social right. The other prepared submits are to other institutions dealing with public empowerment. Mainly the cases are related with people under social protection and persons asking for realization of their rights by administrative procedure or organizations with public empowerment.

April

April 2005
Subject Submitted Date Total
Appeals
Appeal

Court of Appeals - Skopje through Primary Court - Kumanovo

 25th 1
Appeal

Primary Court Kumanovo

 27th 1
Appeal

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work

 27th 1
Total No 3
Proposals
Proposal for hearing of witnesses

Primary Court Kumanovo

 26th 1
Proposal for bargain divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 27th 1
Total No 2
Claims and Statements
Claims to Center for social work for single financial aid - Center for Social work Kumanovo. 5
Claim

To the Primary Public Prosecution

 1
Claim

To Public Enterprise “Cistota i zelenilo”

 1
Statements

Center for social work - Kumanovo

 12
Total No 19
Total No subjects for March 24
Legal advices are given in indefinite number
In April 19 submits were prepared and large number of legal advices was given. Although the number of prepared submits is smaller, the office was visited by large number of citizens, persons under social protection involved in administrative procedures in front of relevant institutions, persons already involved in administrative procedures or willing to start administrative procedure. Again most of the prepared submits were related with administrative institutions, exactly to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and Center for social work. Submits for court procedures were 5, from which 4 related with courts and 1 with Public Prosecution.

May

In May there was no need for complaints
May 2006
Subject Submitted Date Total
Appeals
Appeal upon decision of Primary Court Kumanovo

Primary Court Kumanovo

 11th 1
Total No 1
Proposals
Proposal for accomplishment of monetary claim

Primary Court Kumanovo

 12 1
Total No 1
Reply to complaint
Reply to complaint 9
Total No 9
Claims to Center for social work for single financial aid - Center for Social work Kumanovo 4
Claim to the Council of the Municipality Kumanovo 1
Claim to the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Labour and Social Policy 2
Supplication to Public Enterprise “Cistota i zelenilo” 1
Total No subjects for May 19
Legal advices are given in indefinite number
In May total number of submits was 19, from which most of them were for court instances. As in the previous month a large number of legal advices were given and very big number of citizens was visiting our office to consult whether to start certain procedure or not.

June

June 2006
Subject Submitted Date Total
Complaints
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 1st 1
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo
Total No 3
Appeals
Appeal Commission of the Government of R.M. for decisions on second level related to subjects of insurance for retirement pensions and insurance for people with disabilities through the Fund for retirement pensions and insurance for people with disabilities 7th 1
Appeal

Ministry for Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 14th 1
Appeal

Ministry for Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 21th 1
Appeal

Ministry for Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 21th 1
Appeal

Ministry for Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 27th 1
Total No 5
Claims
Claims to Center for social work for single financial aid - Center for Social work Kumanovo 5
Claim for liberation of court taxes

To the Supreme Court of R.M.

 1
Claim for guardianship of children

Center for social work Kumanovo

 1
Claim

To the Municipality of Kumanovo

 3
Total No 10
Objections
Objection to the Primary Court Kumanovo - Criminal Council 1
Total No subjects for June 18
Legal advices are given in indefinite number
During this month although the number of prepared submits is the same as previous two months, but regarding the fact that in the summer period the number of persons applying for legal aid is smaller, and legal advices also are smaller then previous months. The number of persons applying for legal aid was bigger for administrative procedure, then in court procedures. Most submits are towards Center for social work and the Ministry for Labour and Social Policy.

July and August

July 2006
Subject Submitted Date Total
Proposals
Proposal for bargain divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 27th 1
Total No 1
Appeals
Appeal

Ministry for Labour and Social Policy through the Center for social work Kumanovo

 17th 1
Total No 1
Claims
Claims to Center for social work for single financial aid - Center for Social work Kumanovo. Claim to Center for social work for replenishment of funeral costs 6 1
Claim

To the Ministry of Interior- Department for Interior Kumanovo

 1
Claim

To the Municipality of Kumanovo

 1
Total No 9
Total No subjects for July 11
Legal advices are given in indefinite number
In July and August the number of citizens applying for legal aid is smaller whether is court or administrative procedure, because the temperatures are so high, and citizens and institutions in Macedonia are working with low intensity. The interest for taking legal actions against is smaller, except for those ongoing and time limited procedures. The courts starting from the second half of July till the end of August do not work with full capacity but are working only on emergency cases. One of the project’s activities, preparation and distribution of brochures with educational content, was realized and prepared in August, and distributed in October on the two meetings held with the local population of the Romani settlement Sredorek and Baraki mahaala, while discussions for civil rights and their realizations were realized. In August persons working on this project were on annual holidays, because in this period when courts are also on annual holidays, and citizens do not have greater needs for legal aid in the court procedures.

September

September 2006
Subject Submitted Date Total
Proposals
Total No None
Complaints
Complaint for divorce

To Primary Court Kumanovo

 19th 1
Total No 1
Claims
Claim

Ministry for Labour and Social Policy of Republic of Macedonia

 1
Claim

Claims to Center for social work for single financial aid - Center for Social work Kumanovo

 9
Claim

To the Municipality of Kumanovo

 3
Total No 13
Total No subjects for September
Legal advices are given in indefinite number

October

October 2006
Subject Submitted Date Total
Proposals
Proposal for accomplishment of monetary claim

Primary Court Kumanovo

 3rd 1
Total No 1
Complaints
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 17th 1
Complaint for divorce

Primary Court Kumanovo

 5th 1
Complaint for complete jurisdiction dispute

To the Supreme Court of R.M

 8th 1
Complaint for assessment of parenthood

Primary Court Kumanovo

 19th 1
Total No 4
Claims
Claim

Claims to Center for social work for single financial aid - Center for Social work Kumanovo

 9
Claim

To Sentence and Corection Prison for postponement of prison sentence

 1
Claim

Primary Court Kumanovo for liberation of court taxes

 1
Total No 11
Total No subjects for October
Legal advices are given in indefinite number