The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a new and unique mechanism of the United Nations which consists of the review of the human rights practices of all States in the world. It is neverending cycle that circles once in every four years.
The Republic of Macedonia will be the state under review in May this year. Having that in mind, 9 non-governmental organizations from Macedonia formed the coalition Macedonia Without Discrimination, and pointed out substantive issues in the report regarding the protection and promotion of human rights on the ground. Main focus of Macedonian Women Rights Centre was domestic violence issue, sexual and reproductive health and women’s rights.
Domestic violence as separate crime in criminal code
Macedonian Women Rights Center (MWRC) has particularly lobbied for domestic violence to be regulated as separate crime in the Criminal Code. The current situation relating to this issue is that the domestic violence can only be prosecuted under the category of physical injury, unlawful deprivation of liberty and murder. In the Criminal Code the domestic violence is regulated as a subject of incrimination through adopting several measures in the above mentioned existing crimes.
Adopting systematic law which will regulate this issue will lead to fast and efficient ending of the court cases. In that matter, that will affect reducing the whole procedure in the front of the court of law instead of institutional procrastinating involving many obstacles. For example, there is no well organized referral system when a woman facing domestic violence is to be directly recommended to an institution which makes additional trauma for the victim itself. Thus, the domestic violence against woman is one of the most vitriolic social problems affecting psychological and mental situation of its victims.
Women are marginalized group in Macedonia
Another point that MWRC took into consideration is the situation among the woman living in the rural areas. Since Macedonian society is mostly traditional where the male figure in the family is still dominate, the current situation with marginalized woman affected by poverty and inequality refers to their endowment with help in terms of recognizing their own social rights and putting emphasis on their integration and full participation in society.
Also, it is recognized how women from the rural areas, and women belonging to the ethnic minorities, such as from Albanian and Roma community, don’t have proper access to health services and lack of sexual and reproductive health education. In these terms – the visit and having examinations at the gynecologist is somewhat stigmatized and still considering as an immoral act.
The coalition Macedonia Without Discrimination is consisted of the Association for Democratic Initiatives – ADI, First Children’s Embassy in the world-MEGJASHI, Polio Plus – movement against disability, Humanitarian and Charitable Association of Roma in Macedonia – Mesecina, Healthy Options Project Skopje – HOPS, Macedonian Association for Free Sexual Orientation – MASSO, Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation – MCIC, Macedonian Women Rights Centre – MWRC, Roma rights forum Arka and Union of Woman Organizations of Macedonia – SOZM.
Official websites of NGOs:
MWRC – Macedonian Women Rights Centre ;
ADI – Association for Democratic Initiatives ;
Megjashi – First Children’s Embassy in the World ;
Polio Plus – Movement Against Disability ;
Mesecina – Humanitarian and Charitable Association of Roma in Macedonia ;
HOPS – Healthy Options Project Skopje ;
MASSO – Macedonian Association for Free Sexual Orientation ;
MCIC – Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation ;
SOZM – Union of Woman Organizations of Macedonia ;
Arka – Roma Rights Forum.
