Human rights in the Republic of Macedonia

The Republic of Macedonia is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and the U.N. Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and Convention against Torture, and the Macedonian Constitution guarantees basic human rights to all citizens.

There do however continue to be problems with human rights. According to human rights organisations, in 2003 there were suspected extrajudicial executions, threats and intimidation against human rights activists and anti-regime journalists and allegations of torture by the police.

The country also has issues with the human rights of ethnic minorities, such as Albanians, Bulgarians, Serbs, Roma, Turks, Aromanians, Greeks and Vlachs.

Although Albanians have since 2002 been allowed to study in Albanian, before graduating from university they are required to pass a test of their comprehension and use of the Macedonian language.

According to Human Rights Watch, many former Yugoslav citizens remain "effectively stateless" as a result of a citizenship law drafted after Macedonia's secession from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Conflict between ethnic Albanian rebels and the Macedonian government has resulted in serious violations of human rights on both sides.

...
Wikipedia