About Us

ID OF THE COALITION

The Coalition ‘Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities’ was founded in 2007 as a non-formal, joint platform and the result of the joint efforts of several organizations: HOPS – Healthy Options Project Skopje, HERA, IZBOR – Strumica and EGAL. Since 2011, the Coalition has been registered as an individual entity, that is as an NGO whose founders are: HOPS – Healthy Options Project Skopje, HERA, IZBOR – Strumica, EGAL and STAR-STAR.

VISION

The Coalition “Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities” (SHRMC) promotes a world with equal people, without discrimination, a world where everyone can enjoy the universal human rights and where respect of diversity and the right to choice are the basic principles of a democratic and free society.

MISSION

The Coalition “Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities” promotes protection and respect of the fundamental human rights of marginalized communities, with focus on LGBTI persons, drug users, people living with HIV, sex workers and marginalized women. The Coalition focuses on advocacy, research and analysis, inclusion of the marginalized communities in the creation and implementation of the policies, education of all the relevant actors, promotion of the cultural practices of the marginalized communities, as well as networking and building alliances with the civil society.

STRATEGIC GOALS

  1. Promotion of the health and well-being of marginalized communities (MC) by providing availability and improvement of access to quality health, social and legal services;
  2. Promotion of MC’s human rights and protection from discrimination of the MC’s through advocacy and promotion of laws, policies and practices;
  3. Establishing of supportive environment for the MC’s, where the equality, freedom and respect of sexual differences are core values;
  4. Stronger participation and activity of marginalized communities in the struggle for application of their rights and freedoms;
  5. Improving the organizational effectiveness and transparency of the Coalition SHRMC.

SUB-GOALS AND KEY ACTIVITIES

  1. Promoting policies, laws and practices that will provide fair and equal treatment of MC;
  2. Promoting inclusion and full participation of MC in the creation and implementation of policies and services crucial for their health and rights;
  3. Educating the concerned- MC, government representatives, service providers, collaborators and the general public regarding health requirements and rights of MC;
  4. Developing/inclusion/networking with associated organizations in order to provide exchange of knowledge, assuming joint actions and providing application of good practices for promotion of health and rights of MC;
  5. Developing strategies for providing financial means from possible donators, government institutions etc.
  • Campaigns for sensitizing the public regarding the rights of MC;
  • Promotion of Anti-Discrimination Law in the context of MC;
  • Debating and discussing about Sexual and Health Rights of MC;
  • Creating reference network of doctors and lawyers, sensitized to MC;
  • Developing skills with representatives of public institutions (in the field of health, social services etc.) and state bodies (ministries, parliament, local self-government units);
  • Instigating court cases for exercising the rights of MC and providing legal assistance;
  • Advocacy for establishing specialized (free, quality, voluntary, confidential) services for sex and reproductive health within the frames of the health protection system;
  • Introducing sexual health as a subject in education;
  • Establishing positive legal environment for prevention of discrimination against MC;
  • Promotion of Law on Anti-Discrimination in the context of MC;
  • Advocating for amendments of a Law on Anti-Discrimination in the context of MC;
  • Advocacy for elaboration of national policies;
  • Establishing collaboration and partnership with the Ombudsman and the Public Prosecutor;
  • Working with the Commissions for Protection of Patients’ Rights in the municipalities;
  • Documenting violation cases of sexual and health rights of MC, elaboration and issuing reports on the sexual and health rights state of MC;
  • Informing the MC on their rights;
  • Active participation of MC in the Coalition activities;
  • Organizing activities for the community’s reinforcement;
  • Motivating the MC to report/instigate cases;
  • Organizing activities for raising the political awareness of MC.

BELIEFS

  • The Coalition believes that respect of diversity and the right to choice are the fundamental principles of healthy, tolerant and free society;
  • The Coalition recognizes in full the needs and requirements of marginalized communities regarding their health, sexuality and freedom to choose the manner of living and habits, and promotes the application of these rights;
  • The Coalition believes that enjoying the sexual and health rights of marginalized communities can be implemented in its full solely by active participation and mobilization of representatives of marginalized communities and partnership with all the relevant factors in the society;
  • The Coalition is a democratic network of citizen’s organizations, based on the principle of equality, horizontal and collaborative actions and decision making based on principles grounded on the framework of human rights;
  • The Coalition promotes comprehensive understanding of sexuality, including emotional, psychological, social and cultural factors while planning and distribution of services;
  • The Coalition promotes actions based on integral approach in representing human rights and solidarity in all social movements for justice and equality of all people, regardless of their identity, status, characteristics and differences.

TARGET GROUPS

  • General population
  • Decision makers
  • Representatives of public and state institutions on local and central level
  • Young people
  • The International Community
  • Marginalized Communities

BENEFICIARIES

  • LGBT/MSM (Men having sex with men)
  • Sex Workers
  • Drug Users
  • People Living with HIV/AIDS
  • Marginalized Women
  • Coalition Members

PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION

  • Ministry of Health
  • Ministry of Education and Science
  • Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Parliamentary Commissions
  • Public institutions providing health, social and legal services
  • Higher-education institutions
  • Electronic and printed media
  • Civil sector
  • European Commission
  • Council of Europe
  • International organizations and networks
  • Donors

LONGTERM GOAL

Providing equal access and enjoyment of human rights of marginalized communities and better life quality in different social spheres.

Executive director: Irena Cvetkovik [irena.cvetkovik@gmail.com]

Coalition’s coordinator: Slavco Dimitrov [slavco.coalition@gmail.com]

FOUNDERS AND MEMBERS

DONORS