Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia
Helsinki Committee for Human Rightsof the Republic of Macedonia,was founded on 6th October,1994 in Skopje. In November, the same year, it was granted an advisory status at the International Helsinki Federation of Human Rights, in Vienna.In November, 1995, at the annual conference in Istanbul, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee became a regular and mandatory member of the International Federation, constituedof committees from 39 countries. Since, autumn 1997, within the International Federation, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Republic of Macedonia has been granted an advisory status in the United Nations and the Council of Europe. The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia is a non-governmental organization which major duty is to observe and inform, on local and international level, on the respect of the human rights, in accordance with the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act and other accompanying documents which determine the international standards for the respect of human rights.
The basic tenet in the activities of the Helsinki Committee is unbiased approach, objectivity, non-discrimination on any basis and competency in its remarks or human rights violations. The Helsinki Committee reacts in cases of violations of the human rights promoted by the international legislation, guaranteed by the Constitution, the national legislation and by the State and its institutions. It monitors the activities of the national institutions (President, Parliament, Government, Ministries, Courts, State administration, Police, etc.) and the way they practice their authorities. Further more, Helsinki Committee being one the principle creators of civic values in the country and following its mission, continuously reminds the government of the undertaken duties in regard to the Helsinki Final Act, and all ratified international documents by which the State has obliged itself to guarantee and realize the human rights and freedoms in the country.
Permanent part of the activities is the field of education, which is preformed with participation of experts from the Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (within the Institute for Sociological, Political and Juridical Research) and experts from different faculties from the Universities of the country.
Large part of the activities, the Committee undertakes through the established contacts with University centres in the country, through membership in functioning NGO networks, direct contacts with governmental structures (ministries, agencies and institutes).
A number of full-time lawyers and administrative personnel is in charge of documentation of cases, creation of data base, media follow up, etc.
The Helsinki Committee provides free legal aid regarding submitted complaints by citizens, undertakes casework, legal initiatives, researches, disseminations on human rights, organizes conferences, seminars, trainings etc.
In order to inform and warn the public in cases of human rights and freedoms violations, the Committee reports to international institutions, non-governmental organizations, agencies and academic public through monthly and annual reports, legal analysis and press releases.
As a result of the Committees' work in the field of human rights activism is the newly established Helsinki Committee - Human Rights Youth Activists Group.