Priority goal: Change of the electoral model/electoral code

1. Specific objective: One electoral unit without threshold

STRATEGIC GOAL: EXERCISING THE RIGHTS OF ROMA GUARANTEED BY THE OHRID FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

Priority area| Equitable representation of Roma in public administration

Priority goal : Changing the methodology for allocation of civil servants

1. Specific objective: Increasing the number of employed Roma in public administration

The current electoral model favors only the larger political parties where the numbers decide and where the vote of the small ethnic communities, including the Roma, have less influence and value. The result of this political attitude within the political competition further undermines the vote of the Roma people who due to ethnically geographically and politically tailored constituencies do not have equal and fair chances to quantitatively unify their votes and increase their political representation at national level. The proposal for a single constituency will enable Roma and other to unify quantitatively their votes and will them for fair electoral competition. This model will also prevent bipartisanship between the Macedonian and Albanian blocs and will give smaller parties a chance in politics.

The data show a continuous slow improvement in equitable representation. The representation of ethnic Roma decreased from 1.4 to 1.3%, while the representation of other smaller communities increased. The equitable representation in the public administration of Albanians is more than 20%, Turks 2%, Serbs 1.5, Vlachs 0.7%, Bosniaks 0.5% and 1.3% Roma, compared to 75.6% Macedonians. This situation indicates that institutions use selective implementation and respect for the principle of equitable representation.

It also demonstrates the imbalance in the relationship between the country's total population as a starting point and benchmark for the implementation and recognition of the principle of equitable representation. The Roma community is significantly under representation in public administration in the area of managerial positions where the percentage of fulfillment is 0.2%.

Priority Area ||Legislative harmonization with the EU law

Specific goal: Assessment of the impact of the regulation on the Roma community

1. Specific objective: Preparation of recommendations and draft amendments for laws that target the Roma community

STRATEGIC GOAL: SENSITIZING NATIONAL AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS FOR ANTIGYPSYISM

Priority Area |Consistent implementation of the law on protection against discrimination

Specific goal: Reform of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination

1. Specific objective: Legal protection against discrimination

Often new regulations have a negative impact on the Roma community. The impact on the new laws so far have not been assessed and due to this fact the community is constantly faced with legal obstacles. The aim is to prepare amendments to proposed laws and to prevent negative impact on the Roma community.

The Law on Prevention and Protection against Discrimination established a new body - the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, which deals with complaints about alleged discrimination by state bodies and other bodies with public authorizations, but also when discrimination is committed by individuals and legal entities in the private sector. However, with the application of the Law and the commencement of the work of the Commission, a number of inconsistencies were identified, which also influence the effectiveness of the protection against discrimination. Although the number of complaints by the Roma community is increasing, the commission has so far not instituted any court procedure for determining discrimination before a competent court. The proposed new law contains an extended range of protection which the previous law did not cover. Because of this the new law will be followed in the next period.