February 2nd is not the Day of Homosexuals!
19/02/2007
By
Ana Piponska and Slavco Dimitrov- MASSO
A Stop to Homophobia!
European year of equal opportunities for all
February 2nd is not the Day of Homosexuals!
MASSO (Macedonian Association for Free Sexual Orientation), today (Friday) 2 February 2007, at 11am held a press conference at the NGO Info Centre titled "European year of equal opportunities for all!"
2 February was chosen as the date for the conference, among other things, because the general public must know that this is not the day of homosexuals and equating this day with this people group represents a classical example of spreading of homophobia which cannot be allowed in any modern, democratic and civilised society.
In order to prevent the spreading of homophobia in the country MASSO would like to highlight the following cases of human rights abuses:
Prescribing treatment in order to “cure homosexuality” by Dr. S.B. from the Public Health Clinic in Bitola (last year’s case with the psychiatrist) which may cause repercussions to the health of the patient. Such treatment of sexual orientation by psychiatrists must not happen again, as it is fatal to the destruction of many human lives. The institutions responsible have confirmed that they would not allow for homosexuality to be treated as a disorder, which corresponds with the Codex of the Chamber of Doctors. However, the display of indifference as well as the delayed undertaking of appropriate measures represent a flagrant abuse of human rights. MASSO will monitor the measures taken by the Chamber of Doctors and hopes the in the future the lives of the LGBTQ community will be treated with dignity which is becoming of ethics and professionalism.
The spreading of homophobia on behalf of professors such as Dr. Georgi Chadlovski and Olga Murdzheva-Shkarik in the college textbooks is intolerant in society! MASSO with the support of the appropriate institutions in the country will begin the process to withdraw the textbooks from their usage for educational purposes. MASSO has sent a request with an analytical explanation to the Chamber of Doctors, the Faculty of Medicine and the Rectorate of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius” in order for them to take appropriate measures and prevent the future offence to the dignity of homosexuals, as well as the right for free sexual orientation.
Based on the research done in Macedonia, and foremost due to facts which speak of the low number of people, informed about how to protect their own personal sexual health, MASSO would like to initiate the idea, which is being more intensely discussed in the non-government sector, and the focus of which is the development of a sexual education programme.
The year 2007 is the European year of equal opportunities for all! Macedonia needs to adopt the law on non-discrimination in order to synchronise its own legislation with EU legislation. The law has already been drafted and there are two versions, one done by the MHC and another by the Institute for Socio-political and Legal Research.
We call on the Government and the Parliament of Macedonia to: Adopt the law on non-discrimination as it is of great significance to Macedonia in order for the country to harmonise its legislation with the European legislation and for the mutual respect among the citizens of Macedonia.
The Government of Macedonia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed the United Nations statement against violence towards LGBTQ individuals, a document which has been signed by the majority of member countries of the UN. The Government however, has still remained passive to the outstanding demands and protection of LGBTQ rights. In the year of equal opportunities for all, it is time for the Government to show itself indeed!
The conference was led by Dr. Mirjana Najchevska of the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Management and Ana Piponska, MASSO PR.
European year of equal opportunities for all
February 2nd is not the Day of Homosexuals!
MASSO (Macedonian Association for Free Sexual Orientation), today (Friday) 2 February 2007, at 11am held a press conference at the NGO Info Centre titled "European year of equal opportunities for all!"
2 February was chosen as the date for the conference, among other things, because the general public must know that this is not the day of homosexuals and equating this day with this people group represents a classical example of spreading of homophobia which cannot be allowed in any modern, democratic and civilised society.
In order to prevent the spreading of homophobia in the country MASSO would like to highlight the following cases of human rights abuses:
Prescribing treatment in order to “cure homosexuality” by Dr. S.B. from the Public Health Clinic in Bitola (last year’s case with the psychiatrist) which may cause repercussions to the health of the patient. Such treatment of sexual orientation by psychiatrists must not happen again, as it is fatal to the destruction of many human lives. The institutions responsible have confirmed that they would not allow for homosexuality to be treated as a disorder, which corresponds with the Codex of the Chamber of Doctors. However, the display of indifference as well as the delayed undertaking of appropriate measures represent a flagrant abuse of human rights. MASSO will monitor the measures taken by the Chamber of Doctors and hopes the in the future the lives of the LGBTQ community will be treated with dignity which is becoming of ethics and professionalism.
The spreading of homophobia on behalf of professors such as Dr. Georgi Chadlovski and Olga Murdzheva-Shkarik in the college textbooks is intolerant in society! MASSO with the support of the appropriate institutions in the country will begin the process to withdraw the textbooks from their usage for educational purposes. MASSO has sent a request with an analytical explanation to the Chamber of Doctors, the Faculty of Medicine and the Rectorate of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius” in order for them to take appropriate measures and prevent the future offence to the dignity of homosexuals, as well as the right for free sexual orientation.
Based on the research done in Macedonia, and foremost due to facts which speak of the low number of people, informed about how to protect their own personal sexual health, MASSO would like to initiate the idea, which is being more intensely discussed in the non-government sector, and the focus of which is the development of a sexual education programme.
The year 2007 is the European year of equal opportunities for all! Macedonia needs to adopt the law on non-discrimination in order to synchronise its own legislation with EU legislation. The law has already been drafted and there are two versions, one done by the MHC and another by the Institute for Socio-political and Legal Research.
We call on the Government and the Parliament of Macedonia to: Adopt the law on non-discrimination as it is of great significance to Macedonia in order for the country to harmonise its legislation with the European legislation and for the mutual respect among the citizens of Macedonia.
The Government of Macedonia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed the United Nations statement against violence towards LGBTQ individuals, a document which has been signed by the majority of member countries of the UN. The Government however, has still remained passive to the outstanding demands and protection of LGBTQ rights. In the year of equal opportunities for all, it is time for the Government to show itself indeed!
The conference was led by Dr. Mirjana Najchevska of the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Management and Ana Piponska, MASSO PR.
