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Report
MASSO calls for bigger respect of the LGBT population
The Macedonian Association for Free Sexual Orientation (MASSO) calls for passing a law for non-discrimination that has been prepared for a longer time now and that is to provide prevention, reduction or protection from violating the human rights of the LGBT population. Although the law has been part of the Macedonian government’s agenda for a longer time now, it has not entered the passing procedure yet, MASSO informs in its annual report on the LGBT population human rights in Macedonia.
The European Commission supported the passing of this law at the end of last year. They emphasized the necessity to pass the law in 2008. At the beginning of 2007, the civil society organization Polio Plus initiated the establishing of a coalition for non-discrimination, which is actively engaged in passing the law.
In Macedonia, there are a number of cases of sexual discrimination, they say in the report. According to the MASSO president, Koco Andonovski, the open homophobia is present in most of the media in Macedonia, but there are also such that treat this subject consciously and on time. The municipality of Centar showed discrimination as well by not allowing for the festival Queer Square Skopje to take place last year in front of the Army House.
The ambassadors of Slovenia and Holland, Alen Bergant and Simona Filippinni were among those who supported MASSO activities. The Ambassador Bergant encouraged the LGBT population in Macedonia to fight for the realization of their projects, pointing out that the changes of the mentality and the social conditions cause positive movements in the human rights condition of this population. The Dutch Ambassador Filippinni emphasized that Holland has been supporting MASSO activities for some time, especially considering the fact that in their country, the tolerance and the respect of the individual rights are at a high level. “Respecting the human rights is crucial for Macedonia and her aspirations for the EU”, said Filippinni.
S.N.
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