ELECTRONIC INFORMANT
WOMAN’S VISION October– October– December
WOMEN AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE Year 2012, no.06 no.06
CONTENTS Violence is our reality 2
Young farmers and the labour market
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Why women stay in bad relationships?
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Researchof ESE
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Within the 16 International days for fight against family violence and gender discrimination as infringement of human rights which were marked in UNASM’s offices in Prilep and Skopje in the period from the 25th of November until the 10th of December, 2012 in Prilep, the Women’s trade union organization within UNASM and UNASM’s regional office Prilep implemented educational activities dedicated to members, citizens, youngsters and women referring to protection from any form of violence and promotion of human rights. Panel on: “Family violence and gender discrimination” was organized in Skopje attended by numerous interested citizens, as well as youngsters. The main aim was for the guests to get familiar with all types of violence against women and girls, as well as accent to be put on institutions in the system and their active involvement in the inclusion in the fight against any type of violence against women and youngsters. In UNASM’s regional office Prilep in cooperation with the civil organization of women “Orchid” implemented two educational activities related to this type of violence against women. Numerous repre-
sentatives of the education sector attended the events, as well as representatives of the NGOs, local institutions, citizens and youngsters. At the meetings it was highlighted that in the municipality of Prilep, one woman of three is a family violence victim, while one woman in two is victim of physical violence. For many years, Prilep does not have a shelter center for protection of family violence and therefore victims have been directed towards Bitola and Skopje. Furthermore, the SOS hotline to which victims could turn and ask for help and support in solving their problem is out of function. Women’s trade union organization within UNASM ended the campaign by marking the 10th of December, the International day of human rights, by putting an accent on social dialogue promotion between the Government, business sector and trade unions, as well as fight against all forms of violence against women and youngsters and respect of workers’ rights.
Violence is our reality government, Social work center, Ministry of interior, inspector from the organized crime department Struga, APRZ Bitola, managers from different institutions, PSSH Jablanica, Struga, PTT Struga and members of UNASM Struga attended this event. On the 30th of November, 2011 a panel on: “Violence is our reality” took place in the premises of UNASM’s regional office Struga on the occasion of the 16 days of activism for fight against family violence. Representatives of nongovernmental organizations, health care institutions, educational institutions, local self-
office Struga should continue with this kind of educational panels for its members in order to raise the awareness for declaring any kinds of violence particularly the one on the workplace and workers’ rights infringement.
The regional office Struga promoted UNASM’s SOS hotline for declaring violence, mobbing and infringement of workers’ rights and propaganda material on violence elimination was disseminated. It was said that violence is increasing, particularly on the workplace. The present concluded that the regional
Young farmers and the labour market role of ecology in the agricultural production process and direction of young people on the labour market. The president of UNASM, Mr. Antovski said that youngsters should put effort in the development and promotion of the agricultural sector and the strategic formulation for promotion of the young farmer.
The Youth Trade Union Organization within UNASM and within the PME programme supported by CNV Internationaal from the Netherlands realized the educational seminar on: “Young farmers and the labour market” that was held in the period from the 21st until the 24th of December, 2012 in Ohird, Macedonia. The creativity and the methods for the realization of this project are of great importance for young farmers and further motivation for them and support of agriculture in the Republic of Macedonia.
Young participants have also taken part in the working groups that have been organized within the event. Experts from the Faculty of the Agriculture and food in Skopje, the Farmers’ federation and the Agency for support and development of agriculture and the Temporary employment agency “Partner” took part in the event. Participants highlighted that this kind of seminars accentuating agriculture production and safety and protection of young workers in the agriculture sector should be more often organized. The Youth Trade Union Organization within UNASM expresses its gratitude to the donors that is unselfishly helping and supporting the initiatives and projects of UNASM’s youth.
The main objective of the seminar was for young participants to get acquainted with the use and protection of herbicides, the
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WOMAN’S VISION
Why women stay in bad relationships? Women stay in bad relations because they are afraid of being alone, they hope that things will improve, they do not want to hurt their children and are often afraid of what is coming after the divorce. The most frequent reason why women do not want to end a bad relation is because they are afraid of being alone. They would rather put up with insults and humiliation than facing with all that life brings. Some of them think that a life of solitude is overestimated and they find a bad relation satisfactory consolation. Fear of divorce- Regardless of how much their marriage is unsupportable a great number of women decide to remain in the marriage because they are afraid of the reaction of their surroundings. Divorce brings certain problems with which women are not ready to face. Their biological clock is ticking – The biological clock is one of the reasons because of which women put up with everything. After years of investing in the love relation women are ready to put up with indescribable humiliation just to have a child, particularly if they are a bit elder. They do not want to hurt their partner – Sometimes problems can be seen even at the beginning of the relationship, but it is very difficult to perceive that in the infatuation phase. Children, year passed together and nice moments spent together do not leave women to hurt their partner even knowing that the relationship will not have a happy ending. They do not want to hurt the children – Divorce is exceptionally painful experience, particularly for the kids, so women do not consider it as a solution. They want to offer children normal life and they do not want to pull children away from their fathers at any cost. Therefore they are afraid to leave and face a life of a single mother. They hope that the situation will improve- In certain situations it is very difficult for a woman to leave because she is still hoping that things will improve. Still, the possibility for things to work out
Year 2012, no.06
is very small. Instead, the partner may abuse the kindness and ignore the threats of the woman that she would leave him. They think they will not find somebody better – It is difficult to go in the unknown, so women usually stick to what they know, because they are afraid of what may come in future. They neglect their partner’s flaws because they think that they will never find somebody better. The most important thing is the woman to gain enough courage and to try to change her life because we are responsible for our own happiness. They see themselves as part of the problem- People cheat because they have the right to, and therefore no one should blame himself/herself because of that. Keep in mind that instead of having a mistress you can opt a marriage counseling or divorce. If you buckle, you may lower your criteria and your partner will continue to abuse your kindness. They do not know of something better- Some women stay in a bad relationship because they do not know of something better. They frequently make the mistakes that their parents have made because they see them as an example. That sort of perception is a limit for them, but they often come in terms with the fact that there is not anything good out there for them. Pressure from the surroundings – The pressure of friends of family may often be so serious, that women would rather stay in a dysfunctional marriage than facing this pressure. Certain standards are imposed to women which are not equal to all, so women put up with so many thing just to be successful. Still, they do not have the same reaction from the partner.
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Research : ” Institutional response to psychological harassment (mobbing) and sexual harassment on the workplace” The Association for emancipation, solidarity and equality of women – ESE for more than 15 years has been working in the field of promotion and implementation of women human rights and social justice in our society. The results of analysis and researches carried out regarding the situation of the woman in Macedonia in the area of: family violence, sexual and reproductive health, discrimination, human trafficking etc. are just some of the activities ESE deals with. We work with women who have suffered violence and whose rights have been infringed. In that way we help them to reach justice and change their living conditions. On the other hand, we change the laws and policies that influence on the promotion of women human rights. In order to obtain proper and sufficient amount of data regarding the presence of psychological harassment (mobbing) and sexual harassment a woman employed in the public and private sector faces, last year, we carried out a field research with 809 interviewed women aged between 15 and 64. The implementation of the survey was financially supported by CNV Internationaal from the Netherlands. The survey encompassed women who are or were in a working relation in the past year. The fact that the interviewed women were of different age, from different region and community was taken into account. The results of the survey pointed out to a high presence of psychological harassment on the workplace (57%), i.e. one woman of two claimed that she is victim of this kind of violence, while 17,1% of the interviewed women said that they are victims of sexual harassment on the workplace. WOMEN’S VISION
Additionally, ESE with the financial help of CNV Internationaal is in the final phase of the implementation of a new research related to institutional response to these types of violence (physiological and sexual harassment on the workplace).
collecting data and analysis regarding these types of violence, as well as the absence of analysis of the responses of certain institutions which according to legal regulations are competent to react in case of psychological and sexual harassment.
The aim of this research is to determine the existence of institutional prevention, processing and directing mechanisms of the cases of psychological harassment and sexual harassment on the workplace. Besides the competent authorities, this survey will include organizations/institutions from the private and public sector regarding their organizational culture and the developed internal procedures referring to discrimination and violence on the workplace.
Therefore, it is not clear which institution is competent or whether the system is organized enough to protect the victims from these types of violence on the workplace. Beside the role of the state and of the other state institutions the place and role of workers’ organizations (in the public and private sector), such as trade unions and civil organizations, that can contribute to prevention and eradication of this problems is of grave importance. The analysis of how the institutions reacted and even most important, their coordination are crucial for complete and proper protection of the victims. The data and recommendations from the research will contribute towards defining the future measures and activities for capacities building and establishing mechanisms and steps for promotion of the situation in this field.
The previously mentioned survey will encompass representatives of trade unions, employers’ associations, chamber of commerce, as well as civil associations that have activities in this field. The survey will be carried out in a form of interviews with representatives of the above mentioned institutions/organizations. The aim of the survey is to fill the vacuum and absence of clear policy and practice for Page 4
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WOMEN’S TRADE UNION ORGANIZATION WITHIN UNASM no. 39 “Vasil Gorgov” 1000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia publisher:
phone. +38923230307 hotline for helping mobbing victims +38923220252 email. ozunasm@gmail.com
publishes: editor:
Divna ZMEJKOVSKA SOOZ within UNASM
Rubincho ARIZANKOSKI
Electronic informant UNASM Newsletter email. unasmbilten@gmail.com