On 4-6 June, the Department for the Execution of Judgments participated in a study visit to Croatia, which was organised for the key stakeholders from relevant institutions of North Macedonia, engaged in the execution of the European Court’s judgment in Elmazova and Others v. North Macedonia. In this judgment, the European Court found discrimination of Roma pupils due to their segregation in two State-run primary schools in Bitola and Shtip which were attended predominantly by Roma children and had Roma-only classes.
The study visit was organised as a follow up to the Reykjavík Declaration adopted at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe (16‑17 May 2023) affirming the need to scale up co-operation programmes to assist member states in the implementation of the European Court’s judgments, which may involve, as appropriate, states facing the same or similar issues in implementation.
The delegation comprised representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science (including the State Secretary), the Ministry of Justice, the General Secretariat of the Government, the Bureau for Development of Education, the municipalities of Bitola and Shtip, the two schools concerned, as well as of the Ombudsman Office and the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination of North Macedonia. They met with representatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, the Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities, the Međimurje County, the schools in this county, as well as the Ombudswoman for Children, and civil society.
The discussions helped identifying good practices adopted in Croatia for the execution of the European Court’s judgment Oršuš and Others v. Croatia concerning discriminatory treatment of Roma children in two primary schools in the Međimurje County, which could serve as a model for the measure to be taken in North Macedonia.
Pursuant to the Indicative work programme for 2024, the Committee of Ministers plans to examine the Elmazova and Others judgment at its Human Rights meeting in December 2024.
The study visit was organised in the framework of the project “Quality Education for All – North Macedonia,” implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by Germany, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia.
