Donor: European Union

Duration of the project: from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2023

Main objective:

The main objective is to improve access to justice for all especially of vulnerable and marginalized groups of citizens in North Macedonia.

Specific objectives:

1. To facilitate protection against discrimination of marginalized groups of people by providing free legal aid;
2. To raise awareness and promote education on human rights issues;
3. To enhance the access to justice of citizens through monitoring relevant institutions using evidence-based analysis;
4. To advocate proper legislation and policies regarding the human rights protection and rule of law in line with the EU acquis;
5. To strengthen the capacities of the organization in policy monitoring, advocacy and achieving greater organization accountability and competence;

Project activities for 2023:

1. Providing free legal aid to vulnerable and marginalized groups of people (people with low income, people with disabilities, elderly persons, women, LGBTI, Roma, etc.);
2. Advocacy for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination;
3. Monitoring the Judicial Council open sessions, and preparation and publishing Monitoring Briefs;
4. Publishing the IHR journal “Legal dialogue” covering topics on human rights from legal aspect;
5. Organizing focus group on issue related with access to justice;
6. Creation of online course on certain human rights and posted on the IHR Academy for human rights;
7. Monitoring the legislation changes and advocate proper implementation of human rights standards;
8. Monitoring of court hearings before the Administrative Court;
9. Publishing yearly policy report on fundamental rights that will serve for advocacy and shadow reporting;
10. Analysis of the ECtHR selected case law regarding administrative justice and preparation of a handbook.

Project activities for 2022:

1. Providing Free legal aid to vulnerable and marginalized groups of people (people with low income, people with disabilities, women, LGBTI, Roma etc);
2. Litigation program for cases where evident discrimination practices are noted through preparation of initiatives and requests for protection of human rights before Constitutional Court;
3. Monitoring the Judicial Council open sessions and preparation and publishing Monitoring Briefs;
4. Promotion of the IHR professional law journal “Legal dialogue” through publishing calls for submission of papers;
5. Organizing focus groups and surveys about issues on access to justice;
6. Creation of two online course on the IHR Academy for e-learning;
7. Publishing yearly policy report on fundamental rights and discrimination in the Republic of North Macedonia that will serve for advocacy and shadow reporting;
8. Development of promotion and visibility products (infographics, videos, GIFs and other visualizations);
9. Trainings for capacity building, investment and development of IHR's potential.

Target groups:

• Marginalized and vulnerable groups of people,
• Relevant public institutions,
• Civil Society Organizations,
• Legal experts;
• Young people.