What NHRI Model for Macedonia? Initial Findings

1. What NHRI Model for Macedonia?Initial Findings Skopje, 04.10.2012 Biljana Kotevska, CRPRC Studiorum

2. 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

3. NHRI 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

4. NHRI Standards at European Regional Level • CoE • Committee of Ministers’ recommendations • 85-13 (on the institution Ombudsperson) • 97-14 (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

5. Institutional Framework of Relevance for NHRIs in Macedonia • Commission for Protection against Discrimination • Ombudsperson of the Republic of Macedonia

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. Thank you for your attention BILJANA@STUDIORUM.ORG.MK OFFICE@STUDIORUM.ORG.MK