“It is very difficult when it comes to discrimination, in the context of social justice in a country where it has become very easy to use discrimination, to fight, anyone who comes to power or fights for it, even civil society thinks it knows what it is and uses that word easily. We should start from there because I think it is difficult to perceive discrimination “, said university professor Mirjana Najchevska at the panel discussion “Social Justice and Discrimination: Too many people on the margins of society and politics… Until when?”Organized by CIVIL.
“The essence of discrimination is not in unequal behavior, but in an unequal opportunity to use rights and opportunities. The question is not how much we discriminate against someone, but how much someone is free, how much they have rights, how much they can protect their rights or practice, whether they are free to vote for whoever they want to or not, whether they really enjoy equal rights as others or not, the issue is not in unequal action, the issue is more complex,” said Najcevska.
According to Professor Najchevska, the online classes that are now being held due to the pandemic of COVID-19 seem to be non-discriminatory, for all children in the whole country, but the result is definitely discriminatory.
“Online classes are seemingly non-discriminatory, for all children, in the whole country, the result is definitely discriminatory and has a very different effect, children have different conditions, there are children who do not have the opportunity to follow it, live in one room with the whole family, children who do not internet access, electricity, space and there are situations where a family has more children and should attend online classes at the same time,” said Najchevska.
Professor Najchevska added that the schools were created for children to be relatively placed in equal conditions for knowledge transfer.
“The moment I do something like everyone else, I am not guilty if the result of my actions is discriminatory. It is most frightening when the victim of discrimination does not realize that they are discriminated against, we enter a closed circle of discrimination very often, I want to mention schools for children with special needs, I objected to its existence, and people try to justify it, that is the way in which the circle of discrimination is closed,” Najchevska said.
Najchevska adds that the state must not react only when there is discrimination, but to create conditions for equality, to do its best, in the role of proactive action and to provide equal opportunities.
“Opportunity to use the potentials of the individual, every individual to be able to have such an optimal social status that will ensure not only non-discrimination, but equality,” added Najcevska.
