“In Macedonia, most of the human rights problems arise from significant levels of corruption and the failure of the Government to fully respect the rule of law, limits on freedom of the media, interference in the judiciary and selective investigations”, reads the regular annual report of the State Department of the United States of America (USA) on the situation of human rights in the world.
Political interference, inefficiency, favoritism of people in high positions, delays in the proceedings, violations of the right to a public trial and corruption are the main features of the judicial system in the country mentioned in the report of the US State Department.
In connection with last year’s presidential and early parliamentary elections, the State Department said they were assessed by OSCE/ODIHR as effectively implemented, but noted that the remarks that “recommendations of OSCE, i.e. the separation of state and party neutrality media, specifying the electoral roll, the possibility of redress through effective complaints procedure, were not implemented during the campaign period,” states the report, which adds that “the authorities maintained effective control over the security forces.”
From other human rights problems last year, the report noted physical abuse of detainees and prisoners by prison guards and poor conditions and overcrowding of prisons and psychiatric institutions in the country.
“Not giving access of lawyer to detainees and defendants, limiting the ability of Roma citizens to leave the country and receiving asylum, domestic violence against women and against children, discrimination against persons with disabilities, discrimination against Roma and other ethnic minorities, social discrimination against members of the LGBT community, child labor, including coercion to begging” are other problem areas noted in the report of the US State Department on human rights situation in Macedonia.
According to the State Department, the Government has taken some steps to punish police officers for excessive use of force, but the implementation of the measures continues to be a problem.
