The Municipality of Gjorche Petrov did not perform segregation based on ethnicity to the residents of Anton Keckarov Street of Roma ethnicity, in the settlement of Dame Gruev. This is the outcome of the first procedure initiated by the Commission for Prevention and Protection Against Discrimination ex officio for segregation based on ethnicity.
The Commission for Prevention and Protection Against Discrimination initiated the procedure after following the reactions from several citizens’ associations for the beginning of construction works and the probable construction of a three-meter wall on st. Anton Keckarov, in the settlement Dame Gruev, a place inhabited by a predominantly Roma population. The Commission was informed that such information provoked reactions among the local population from the settlement of Dame Gruev.
The reactions of the citizens’ associations were that the construction of such a fence could lead to segregation of a large number of people. According to Article 12 of the new Law on Prevention and Protection Against Discrimination, segregation is defined as the physical separation of a person or group of persons on a discriminatory basis without a legitimate and justified aim.
The CPPD contacted the Municipality of Gjorche Petrov in order to get a comment on the allegations in the report, and the municipality responded that there is no segregation or discrimination and that the planned construction of a protective fence is in function of protecting the life and health of the residents of the settlement Dame Gruev.
Representatives of the Commission held a meeting with representatives of the Municipality, at which it was announced that it is planned to redirect Anton Keckarov Street in order to open a sidewalk and build a supportive wall in order to protect and prevent traffic accidents. The municipality informed that the fence is provided in accordance with the General Urban Plan and Detailed Urban Plan and that it is not planned to be 3 meters high, but with a height of a retaining wall.
The commission also inspected Anton Keckarov Street and noticed that no construction works have started on the street, nor is there any fence or wall, which could be interpreted as segregation.