Open Letter: Concern on the situation of the LGBTI community in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Villa Vodno, AcoKaramanov Str. Nn, 1000 Skopje

Mr.Nikola Gruevski

Prime Minister of theFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Blvd. Ilinden No.2, 1000Skopje

Mr. Adnan Jashari

Minister of Justice of the Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia,

Dimitrie Cupovski"no. 9, 1000 Skopje

Mr. GordanaJankulovska

Minister of Interiorof the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Dimce Mircev no.9, 1000 Skopje

Geneva-Paris, November 11,2014

Re: Concern onthe situation of the LGBTI community in the Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia

Excellencies,

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programmeof the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the InternationalFederation for Human Rights (FIDH), is writing to you to express concernregarding the multiple attacks and acts of harassment targeting the LGBTIcommunity in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

On the night of October 23, 2014, a 26-year-old girl received a head injury andan 18-year-old boy received injuries in the leg during an attack against thecafe ‘Damar’ in the Old Bazaar in Skopje, in which the Helsinki Committee ofMacedonia (HCM) was holding a celebration to mark the second anniversary of theopening of the LGBTI center. The celebration was interrupted when a large groupof masked thugs started throwing bottles and crates to the people present atthe cafe.

According to the information received by the Observatory fromreliable sources, this situation is recurrent for the LGBTI community in theFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, this attack being the sixth taking placeagainst this LGBTI center during its two years of existence. It is important tonotice that because of frequent attacks the seat of the LGBT community wasmoved from the Old Bazaar to another location.

The Observatory expresses its deep concern about theabove-mentioned events, and calls upon the authorities of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia topublicly condemn the attacks against the LGBTI community and to take measuresto publicly legitimize their rights and activities.

Moreover, the Observatory calls for an immediate, thorough,transparent investigation into this attack, in order to identify allthose responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal and, incase of conviction, apply them the sanctions provided by the law.

We sincerely hope that you will take theseelements into account.

Yours sincerely,

GeraldSTABEROCK KarimLAHIDJI

OMCT SecretaryGeneral FIDHPresident