Македонски центар за меѓународна соработка - МЦМС

Authors: Mirjana Najchevska and Bekim Kadriu
Date: 2008
PDF: poimnik-na-izrazi-povrzani-so-diskriminacijata-2008.pdf

The goal of this glossary related to discrimination is harmonizing the definitions which are in every day communication, related to discrimination, as well as for easier use of the Law on Protection against Discrimination, after it will have been adopted.

The glossary is intended for every one who wishes to use the Law on Protection against Discrimination in practice (individual persons, legal bodies, lawyers, office of the Ombudsman, public administration, association of citizens) as well as any one interested in this terminology.

The notions and explanations are based, predominantly, on the elementary international documents which directly or indirectly refer to discrimination and ban on discrimination (International Pact for Civil and Political Rights, Convention of the International Labour Organization no. 111, Convention of the UN for elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, European Human Rights Convention, as well as the Art. 13 from the Racial Directive and directives for employment and profession as minimum EU standards), as well as the definitions adopted by the international and regional organizations (UN, the Council of Europe, OSCE, EU) and non-governmental and academic organizations which are involved in this field.

The use of the terminology unification, among other things, is a result from the fact of the dominant influence of the national tradition in the fight against discrimination, which foresees individualization of terminology employed (in compliance with the universally adopted meaning in the world).

The right identification of the discrimination is of highest importance for the application of the most suitable protection mechanisms, however also for the purpose of alarming the wider community and building preventive strategies and policies. Thus, we feel that the raising awareness of the citizens for their own rights in contrast with the possible discriminatory practices, as well as for available protective mechanisms, is closely related to the precise definition of certain categories, situations and institutions.