The survey “Institutional response and organizational policies with regard to the violence at the workplace“, carried out in 2012 by the Association ESE, represents a more thorough consideration of the first survey findings regarding the phenomena of psychological and sexual harassment at the workplace, which were established in the survey entitled "Violence against women at the workplace".
Given the data from the above stated field survey regarding the prevalence of psychological and sexual harassment, we believed that it is very important that survey activities are taken in order to establish the institutional set-up, the formal mandate and the competencies of all relevant institutions concerning the prevention and protection of workers in cases of psychological and sexual harassment at the workplace, however, more importantly, the actual actions being taken and coordination in order to ensure efficient protection of the victims of harassment.
ESE and Akcija Zdruzenska held a press conference on Thursday, 28 February 2013, at the GEM club at 11:00 hrs. The key findings about the situation of women were presented at the press conference, and the speakers were Marija Gelevska from ESE, Marija Savovska from Akcija Zdruzneksa and Natasa Boskovska from the Coalition “Sexual and health rights of the marginalized communities“.
After the press conference, a round table was organized for the citizen associations that work in the area of promotion of human rights and women’s human rights.
The purpose of the round table was to exchange experiences and findings regarding the presented situation about the progress in the area of gender equality and discrimination against women, as well as to share the experience from the reporting by the citizen associations at the 54-th session of the CEDAW Committee.
It was attended by representatives from the following civic organizations: LIL, Association for local rural development, HERA, Akcija Zdruzenska, Foundation Open Society Macedonia,La Strada, Coalition “Sexual and health rights of the marginalized communities”, Poraka, National SOS line for protection against violence and the Centre for human rights and conflict resolution.
The participants expressed concern regarding the dissatisfactory level of implementation of the gender equality policy, as well as about the increasing trend of promoting the patriarchic norms and values in the relations between men and women in our country.
The Committee reviewed the combined fourth and fifth periodic report about former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (CEDAW/C/MKD/4-5) at the 1115-th and 1116-th session on 21 February 2013. The list of questions and answers of the Committee are contained in CEDAW/C/MKD/Q/4-5 and the answers of the Government of former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are contained in CEDAW/C/MKD/Q/4-5/Add.1.
