Skopje, 14 February 2024 (MIA) – The Commission for the Prevention and Protection from Discrimination believes that citizens who have paid to replace their valid documents with ones bearing the country’s new constitutional name have been treated unfairly and urges the institutions to take measures to ensure equal treatment of all citizens, the Commission said in a press release Wednesday.

The Commission’s press release comes after the Government adopted a decision Tuesday making it possible for driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates with the country’s old constitutional name to be replaced free of charge.

“In this case, there is unfair treatment but no discrimination. The institutions should adopt the necessary measures to ensure equal treatment of all citizens in the procedures for the replacement of valid documents with ones bearing the country’s new name,” said the press release.

The Commission said all citizens have an equal right to valid personal documents.

“The failure of the state to provide valid personal documents can violate the other rights of the citizens such as the right to free movement, the right to work, the right to healthcare, etc. We welcome the measures taken by the Government to provide personal documents to all citizens, but they are also overdue, which has violated the legal certainty of the citizens,” added the Commission.

Photo: MIA Archive