| Content: |
Place of realization: Stip, Vinica, Delcevo, Skopje, Kumanovo, Tetovo, Gostivar and Bitola
Lecturer: Redzep Ali Cupi, lawyer; Anifa Demirovska, lawyer; Nadire Selman and Aida Mustafovska, political activists
Participants: Roma women from 8 towns in Macedonia
Number of participants: 233
Activity’s aim: Education on the meaning and manner of voting
Number of realized platforms: 10
Starting from the lack of knowledge about voting right, in the frames of the Campaign for bigger participation of Roma women into politics, there were realized platforms on “Right of vote”. The platforms were realized in 8 towns: Skopje, Kumanovo, Tetovo, Gostivar, Bitola, Delcevo Vinica and Stip, before the parliamentarian elections in June 2008. In each of these towns we have realized by 1 platform, except in Skopje where, due to the high percent of Roma population, we have realized 3 platforms.
In Stip the platform was held on 21.05.2008, with 20 women participants. The lecturer presented the process of voting and the law regulations related to it, after what there followed questions by the participants. Through the lecturing we have noticed that the participants don’t know well the procedure of voting, as the regulation that the list before it will be placed in the box should have one more stamp, etc. Also, we have noticed that there isn’t motivation among the voters for participation on the elections due to the missed trust into the politicians.
On 22.05.2008 in Delcevo it was held the second platform with 23 Roma women participating, which well very well introduced with the voting process.
In Vinica the platforms was held on 24.05.2008 where there were male participants, which was different from the previous platforms. There were 32 participants that explained about the lack of knowledge for voting process among Roma here, and they have mentioned that their votes are most often both for food. Also, the political parties organize transport for Roma voters to go on voting just to have their votes. In general, the participants expressed that they aren’t satisfied with the politicians because of their unrealized promises and because of the unchanged situation in their neighborhood.
In Gostivar the platform was held on 25.05.2008, with 21 participants. They expressed their revolt against the politic at the moment. At the same they we have held the platform in Tetovo, with 23 Roma women participating. Here the participants also underlined the fact that the political parties are buying theit votes.
The next day was realized the platform in Bitola with 23 participants. Here the participants were also unsatisfied because the political parties were trying to buy their votes for 5 euro.
Due to the high percent of Roma population in Skopje there were held 3 platforms, 2 in Suto Orizari and 1 in Topaana. On the platforms in Suto Orizari there were by 20 participants, from where we can conclude the next: lack of knowledge about the voting procedure, manipulation by the political parties, while the anger toward the political parties was most expressed. In Topaana there was realized 1 platform with 25 participants. The general conclusion was that the women were unsatisfied and they don’t want to vote at all. The lecturer explained to them about the importance of their right for secret voting.
The last platform was held in Kumanovo on 28.05.2008, with 25 women participating. These women also said that the voting process in not well explained to them, as well as that they aren’t satisfied by the Macedonian politic with Roma people.
|
