European Commission support under PROGRESS Programme   27 October 2008 Polio Plus – movement against disability, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia, Macedonian Centre for International Co-operation and Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Management, received a grant for the implementation of the Programme “Macedonia without Discrimination”. This support is ensured in the frame of the European Commission PROGRESS Programme, upon the restricted call for proposals “National awareness raising activities in the field of antidiscrimination”. The support is first for the Republic of Macedonia in the frame of PROGRESS Programme.

“Macedonia without Discrimination” Programme consists of a part of the activities planed in the Framework Strategy for joint action to combat discrimination in the Republic of Macedonia. This Strategy is a result of joint efforts of the Coordinative body members during 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for all. These activities include, awareness raising, with the focus on younger population and institutional development, aiming to create efficient framework towards equal opportunities for all people in Macedonia.

Advanced training on non-discrimination

Macedonian center of International cooperation(MCIC) with support of OSCE Spillover Mission to Skopje, will organizing advanced training for nondiscrimination from 14 to 16 on October 2008 in Skopje. During the training, the participants will met with new knowledge’s and practical skills for the basic human rights, equal opportunities and non discrimination. This training follows up, after the basic training of non-discrimination which had been held in June. On this training will have theoretic and practical part for the legislation covering in the EU frames in this sector, then institutions and mechanisms in the EU states for protection of discrimination, challenges for access of rules and e.t.c.

Also will be foreseen the existing legislation in Republic of Macedonia, the necessity of one special Antidiscrimination Law, the solutions in the Proposed Draft of Antidiscrimination Law, regarding the bases of nondiscrimination, monitoring procedures to the International organizations and other.The training will be conduct by prof-dr Mirjana Najceska, ISPPI I M.r Katrin Vladak , Boldsman Institute from Viena. It will be provided consecutive translation from English to Macedonian. The human rights activists which are representative of the NGO’s and dedicated to the idea of equal opportunities and combating discrimination have right to participate on this training. The participants who already met the basic training of non-discrimination and actively spoke the English language will have preferences.

Basic training on non-discrimination

Macedonian center of International cooperation(MCIC) with support of OSCE Spillover Mission to Skopje, have organized basic training for nondiscrimination which have held in the Hotel Carpos of Skopje from 10 to 12 of June 2008. During the training, the participants have met with new know ledges and practical skills for the basic human rights, equal opportunities and non discrimination. The training has theoretic part for the human rights, but also have practical attempts and working in groups. Especially strong attention have been devoted to the International norms and standards for human rights like ( UN system, Council of Europe, OSCE and legislation of EU), as well to the standing condition in Macedonia. The human rights activists which are representative of the NGO’s and dedicated to the idea of equal opportunities and combating discrimination have right to participate on this training. The trainers were Prof-dr Mirjana Najcevska from the Human rights center and conflict resolution and Doc-dr Bekim Kadriu from the SEE-University.

10th of December

On occasion of 10th of December, Polio Plus, as a member of Human Rights House in Macedonia, invited all interested stakeholders to celebrate the International Human Rights Day. In light of this day, on 11th December 2006 the publication “Development of the Anti-discrimination law in Europe, 25 EU Member state compared” and the announced commemoration of 2007 – European Year of Equal Opportunities for all. Professor Dr. Tatjana Petrushevska, professor for International Law, gave short overview of the publication “Development of the Anti-discrimination law in Europe, 25 EU Member state compared”. The aim of this publication is to be used as a tool to improve the reasons for discrimination, to make it clear what the community understands as discrimination and to promote the values of accepting the differences.

The guests were greeted by Mr. Dragi Zmijanac, as a representative of Human Rights House in Macedonia and announced the 2007, Year of Equal Opportunities for All. At the beginning of 2007, the Human Rights House announced the start of serial of activities in line of creation equal opportunities for all. Also, Mrs. Natalya Drozd, OSCE Ambassador in Macedonia stated the OSCE efforts towards the fight against discrimination. The activities in line with the development of the concept for creating the anti-discrimination legislation and awareness raising, are of great importance for approximation and harmonization of Macedonian legislation with the legislation of EU. The Political Adviser of the European Commission in Macedonia, Mrs. Niamh Walsh, presented the EU efforts in the field of protection from discrimination as well as the importance of the lessons learnt in the frame of the Union.

ROUND TABLE " EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL - TOWARDS JUST SOCIETY" Polio Plus, movement against disability, organized a round table on which were invited number of the representatives from the Government and Non-government sector, as well as experts which are working in the field of human rights in Republic of Macedonia, aiming at joint continuation to develop of the concept for creation of the anti-discrimination legislation in the country. The process has already been started, but it has not ended yet.