A year's work of the "Civic counselling centres"

HA "Mesecina" pointed to the human rights violation

On 14 June, the Roma humanitarian association "Mesecina" from Gostivar, where the head office and the coordinator of the programme "Civic counselling centres" are located, held a press-conference for informing the public on the goals, tasks and the results of the year's work of the Programme dedicated to the problems and the realization of the human rights, especially with the marginalized groups. The programme is carried out at 95% of the Macedonian territory, and the counselling centres are located in Skopje, Delcevo, Stip, Prilep, Kumanovo and Gostivar.

Muhamed Toci from "Mesecina", coordinator of the "Civic counselling centres", presented several cases related to the Roma rights that were registered in the counselling centres: "As far as the unresolved cases of the death of the Roma juvenile girl from Bitola is concerned, unofficially, we understood that due to certain pressures, her parents are afraid to press charges. Due to a copper-wire theft in Bitola, some Romas have been detained and beaten at the police station, and after the actual criminals had been found, apart from an oral excuse, there have been no other legal consequences. Regarding the bringing down of the Roma settlement Ramnina in Veles, we are in the process of negotiation with the state authorities. These and similar cases will be forwarded to the expert commission consisting of legal experts from Macedonia, and charges will be pressed in front of the judicature for the most serious ones.

"The work of the "Civic counselling centres" is supported by the MCIC and FOSIM.