The Parliament’s Committee on European Affairs reviewed and adopted first reading of the draft-Law for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination that is set to ensure the principle of equality and elimination of discrimination in the realization of the human rights and freedoms.

The law bans any discrimination on the grounds of race, skin color, national or ethnic background, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, affiliation to a marginalized group, language, nationality, social background, education, religion or religious beliefs, political beliefs, other beliefs, disability, age, family or marital status, property, health, personal capacity or social status, or any other ground.

“I call for sooner adoption of the law, because for us it is maybe just another piece of legislation, but for some citizens in the country it is a matter of fate,” said Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jagoda Shahpaska in the law’s elaboration.

She said the law had previously gone through a long process of consultation with NGOs, followed by a positive opinion from the Venice Commission, which remarks have been embedded in the text. The Parliament adopted the law but then-president Gjorge Ivanov failed to sign it. It was passed again upon its return in the Parliament but the Constitutional Court rescinded the decision because the law was not adopted by a majority of 61 MP votes.

Shahpaska said the law is of essential importance for all citizens and their protection from discrimination but also for the process of starting the EU accession negotiations and harmonization with the Union law.

“North Macedonia is a modern social and democratic state in which all citizens are equal before the law. One of the fundamental values of the constitutional order is, among other things, respect of the democratic principles and human rights. Article 9 of the Constitution says that all citizens are equal in their freedoms and rights, regardless of gender, race, skin color, education, national and social background, political and religious beliefs, social and property status. This is the constitutional ground for the adoption of this law,” noted Shahpaska.

According to her, all individuals and legal entities are obliged to observe the law, which defines the forms of discrimination in accordance with international standards.

The law stipulates that the 7-member anti-discrimination commission is elected and dismissed by the Parliament for a 5-year term, with the right for one re-election. The members should reflect the society as a whole, including the principles of representation of all groups in society, just representation of communities, and gender-balanced participation.