Association
On 28th December 2021, the government adopted the new Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of the Civil Society with an Action Plan. Civil society organisations (CSOs) received the fourth strategic document for the period of 2022 to 2024. Even though at least a dozen CSOs have been actively involved in the creation of the document, they noted a lack of consultation with the broader stakeholders’ group since there has been limited access to inputs towards the document. Those who have followed and been closely involved in these processes say that this plan contains improvements in defining the success indicators.
After it was adopted towards the end of September 2021, the first consultative meeting with organisations that signed the Code for Civil Society Organisations took place on 8th February 2022. At the online workshop, four months after the official promotion and the signing of the Code, there were 24 CSO representatives. The Code for CSOs aims to strengthen the self-regulation system and contribute to further professionality and accountability. A total of 58 CSOs have already signed the Code.
After a public appeal by the President of the Commission for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the Council of the Municipality of Karposh, one of the most eminent civil organisations that deals with the protection and promotion of reproductive health and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases among marginalised groups, was excluded from the process of developing local policies. The association issued a statement noting that since 2019 it has been actively cooperating and partnering with the Municipality of Karposh with only one goal - to improve policies and employment opportunities for Roma women at the local level.
Peaceful Assembly
- The Chamber of Commerce for Energy announced a protest due to the Government’s failure to consider their proposals to tackle the energy crisis. They demand that EVN - the main power distribution and supply company in Macedonia - be returned to the jurisdiction of the state and that the senior officials dealing with energy policies be dismissed. If the government continues to ignore their demands, the president of the chamber stated that they would organise further massive protests.
- After the death of a 24-year-old woman at a pedestrian crossing in Skopje by a driver who left the scene of the accident, the public raised concerns about traffic safety in the city. On 21st January 2022, the civil initiative "Chance for the Centre" asked the authorities to urgently activate the automatic system for monitoring and punishing traffic offences in the capital, which was followed by a series of peaceful gatherings during which these requests were addressed.
- A peaceful one-hour protest against the increase in fuel prices was held by car enthusiasts and motorists, who are directly affected by the changes. During the protest, they demanded that the state freeze or reduce fuel prices, but also reduce the excise tax.
- Single parents protested for the first time in the history of the country. The march under the motto “The Topic of Single Parents Must Not Be a Taboo”, which was organised by the association “One Can!” stressed the issues that single parents face on daily basis. The demands included the creation of appropriate laws in an inclusive manner, solving the housing issue, quality employment of single parents and increasing the participation of single mothers in society through quotas.
In this reporting period several more peaceful protests took place, including against the opening of a plantation for the cultivation of medical marijuana near a school in the vicinity of Struga, the abolition of subsidies for sheep farmers, and problems with environmental and air pollution.
Expression
On 16th February 2022, a physical attack took place on a cameraman and an accredited journalist during the recording of a report about an elementary school in the village of Vrapchiste, where the cameraman and the journalist were first verbally and then physically attacked. The cameraman was then pushed down a flight of stairs and the pair were chased by the perpetrator with an axe. The Association of Journalists of Macedonia called for a “quick and efficient investigation” into the matter.
The Association of Journalists of Macedonia issued a statement on a new legal solution for defamation and insult. As noted in the statement, the current version of the draft law on defamation and insult defines defamation and insult as the expression of a "negative opinion”. The association warned that this definition leaves room for misinterpretation and is in contradiction of freedom of expression and assurance, as a basic democratic value.
During the promotion of the Skopje-Sofia airline, representatives of the domestic media were kept at a distance from the event without the opportunity to record a statement or to document footage of the events. At the same time, cameramen employed by government institutions as well as journalists from Bulgaria had access to the plane itself after landing and to representatives from the delegation. The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM) and the Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) considered this treatment of the media teams, who were invited and accredited to broadcast the event, to be unacceptable.