What NHRI Model for Macedonia? Initial Findings Skopje, Biljana Kotevska, CRPRC Studiorum

Content  Standards:  Organisation of the United Nations  Council of Europe  European Union  Institutions:  Commission for Protection against Discrimination  Ombudsperson of the Republic of Macedonia  General Issues

NHRI Standards at Universal Level: UNNHRI Standards at Universal Level: UN  Hard law:  Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (Art.33)  Optional Protocol of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (Part IV – Art.17-23)  Soft law:  GA Resolution 48/134 and Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions  Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action  Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/20/L.15 (July 2012)  Authoritative interpretations assisting the reading of the law:  CRC, General Comment No.2  CESCR, General Comment No.10  CERD, General Recommendation XVII  CEDAW Statement on relationship with NHRIs

NHRI Standards at European Regional Level  CoE  Committee of Ministers’ recommendations  (on the institution Ombudsperson)  (on establishment of independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of Human Rights)  ECRI Recommendations:  General Policy Recommendation No. 2 on specialised bodies to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance at national level  General Policy Recommendation No. 7 on National legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination  EU  Race Equality Directive 2000/43, Art.13  RECAST Directive 2006/54, Art.20

Institutional Framework of Relevance for NHRIs in Macedonia  Commission for Protection against Discrimination  Ombudsperson of the Republic of Macedonia

Commission for Protection against Discrimination [1]  Competences:  International Human Rights Law  Explicit spell out of competences in the mandate (ex, monitoring of the situation in relation to equality and discrimination)  Cooperation with CSO  Exercise of the mandate  Accessibility:  Physical accessibility  Psychological accessibility  Language accessibility

Commission for Protection against Discrimination [2]  Membership:  ‘Social sciences’ (Art.18)  Pluralism:  Beyond ethnicity  Accountability:  Debate on the annual report  Resources:  Administrative support  Professionalization of the members of the CPAD  Sufficient funds to exercise its full mandate

Ombudsperson of the Republic of Macedonia  Membership:  Public call; possible consultations with CSOs  Pluralism:  Beyond ethnicity  Competences:  Promotion  International Human Rights Law  Public/Private  Cooperation: International Human Rights system; other actors  Resources:  Sufficient funds to exercise its full mandate

Some General IssuesSome General Issues  Need for adopting a National Human Rights Action Plan  Open participative process  Political Will  Non-retrogression guaranties  Possible scenarios

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