Press release – Meeting with the European Parliament Rapporteur for the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Richard Howitt

The Special Rapporteur of the European Parliament for the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Richard Howitt, condemned the anti-LGBTI violence in Macedonia, on the meeting on 29.10.2013 at 12:00 in the LGBTI Support Centre, held between the delegation of the European Parliament and representatives from the Helsinki Committee for human rights and the LGBTI Support Centre.

The EP Rapporteur for the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Howitt, emphasized the support by the European Union for the rights of LGBTI people and expressed regret for the increased hate violence toward LGBTI people in the RM. He also spoke of the EU policies in regard to enjoyment of fundamental human rights and equality of citizens before the law, while also reminding of the duty of the states for protecting all their citizens without selective approach.

On the meeting, Mr. Howitt was notified about the lack of progress in the investigation on four out of five attacks on the LGBTI Support Centre, even though the first attack occurred exactly one year ago. There was also a discussion on the institutional silence and the general lack of dialogue about the threats and hate crimes on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, whose rate has drastically increased. The lack of public condemnation by relevant institutions which are obliged to protect their citizens without discrimination, as well as the low rate of initiating court procedures in cases of anti-LGBTI violence, points to the fact that anti-LGBTI violence in the Republic of Macedonia is not only tolerated, but also encouraged.

After the meeting, our expectations are that Mr. Howitt shall encourage the state institutions to take appropriate measures for clearing and evidence in the cases of the attacks on the LGBTI Support Centre, as well as finding and punishing the perpetrators, for eradication and prevention of anti-LGBTI violence in whole. This is the only way in which the Republic of Macedonia, together with the European Union, can promote tolerance, free access to justice and accepting diversity in society, liberated from violence.