Makedoonia, imeline segu

Lennates Makedooniale lähemale, nägin ma lennuki pardalt midagi kalmistu ja rämpsuhunnike taolist. Lennujaam oli ka kummaline: see on ühest küljest uus, kuid kõik selle kommunikatsioonid (kaablid, torud, kuurid, autod jne) on vanad. Piirivalvur kontrollis mu dokumete kiiresti, ma võtsin takso ja läksin hotelli. Õues oli palav, taevas ei olnud ühtegi pilve. Tee lennujaamast hotelli võttis umbes pool tundi aega ja maksis 40 eurot — hinnad nagu Amsterdamis. Pärast reisi olime kollegiga nii väsinud, et otsustasime ilma lõunasöögita jääda, aga õhtul me leppisime kokku, et kohtume «hobuse juures» (suur monument Makedoonia Aleksandrile), mis püstitati linna keskväljakule, Kivisilla kõrvale. Tuleb öelda, et kesklinnas on mõned sillad ja veel rohkem hobuse skulptuure. Nähtavasti kohalikud kangelased armastasid hobustel kihutada ja skuplturitele meeldis neid kujudena jäädvustada.



Kivisilla kõrval on palju mitte ainult hobuseid ja ratsanikke, vaid ka mõned uhked hooned pseudoklassikalises stiilis. Kohakilud inimesed jutustasid, et kõik sellised hooned ja kujud kesklinnas olid ehitatud eelmise valitsuse ajal, kui valitsus tahtis näidata, et Makedoonia on tõeline Aleksander Suure keisririigi pärija — vene keeles seda nimetatakse «понты». Peaaegu terve Skopje hävis maavärina tõttu eelmise sajandi keskel, seejärel kogu see pseudoklassitsism on täiesti uus immitatsioon.



Praegune Põhja-Makedoonia meenutab mulle Tadžikistani — samasugune püüdlus mitte olla, vaid näida, kõik need suured vormid, pompoosne stiil äärmise vaesuse taustal. Põhjus on arvatavasti selles, et mõlemad riigid on suurte impeeriumide killud, kusjuures need olid kogu aeg maakolkad, mis alles kakskümmend aastat tagasi said iseseisvuse. Kui Tadžikistan arvab olevat Samanide keisririigi pärija ja igatseb Nõukogude Liitu taga, siis Põhja-Makedooniale meeldib mõelda, et ise Aleksander Suur juhtis siit maailma (pärast Aleksandri aega need maad olid ka Osmanide impeeriumi ja Jugoslaavia osa). Mõlemad püüdlus, muidugi, ei baseeru ajalool, nt. Dušanbe ilmus linnana ainult XX. sajandil ja Aleksander Suur sündis lõunapoolem, praegusel Kreeka territooriumil.

Niisiis, keeruline Balkani maade ajalugu jättis palju jälgi: Põhja-Makedoonia (koos Albaaniaga) on kõige vaesemad riigid Europas, siin elavad mitte ainult makedoonlased, vaid ka albaanlased ja romad (olid samuti türklased ja juudid, aga esimesed 1960. aastatel tulid Türki tagasi ning teised hukkusid maailmasõjas). Skopjes, Põhja-Makedoonia pealinnas, kristlased (reeglina need on makedoonlased) elavad parempoolsel jõe kaldal, kuid moslemid (albaanlased ja romad) vasakpoolsel kaldal. Seega ma elasin parempoolsel kaldal ning iga päev, iga kahe tunni tagant mind ümbritsesid mullade laulud, mida võis kuulda igalt poolt mošeede lähedal. Üldiselt, inimesed siin paistavad väga usklikud olevat. Siin sündisid või tegutsesid neli pühakut: Kyrillos, Methodius, Kliment, Naum ning Ema Teresa. Ema Teresa on siin tõesti kõikjal — peale siltide seintel on ka suur pronksist kuju tema nimega kiriku kõrval.



Niisiis, mis vaatamisväärsused Skopjes veel on?

Vana raudteejaam. See hoone oli pooleldi hävitatud 1963. a maavärina tõttu. Raudtejaama seinal olid kellad, mis helisesid hommikul kell 5:17. Kõik on jäänud maavärina mälestusmärgiks. Tuleb öelda, et selles tragöödia (hukkus üle 1000 elaniku) oli seotud rumalusega — kõik majad olid ehitatud arvestamata territooriumi eripära, maapõue sisemist aktiivsust.



Vana Türgi turg asub Kivisilla ees otse suurte nagu teisedki, Aleksandri vanemate monumentide taga. See turg, jätab tõesti mulje, et siin on väike osake Istanbulist. Erinevalt teistest linnaosadest turu ala on munakividega sillutatud. Väikestes majades asuvad kohvikud, kõrtsid, kullast ja hõbedest pulmaehete poed, rõivad, jalatsid, suveniirid ja palju-palju muud. Vaatamata palavusele, inimesi oli nii palju, et kogu aeg kartsime kellelegi jala peale astuda.

Kindlust võib näha kõikjalt, selle seinad püstitati mäe otsa ja see paistab tõesti vallutamatu olevat — kolm seinte rida, järsud nõlvad, sügav vallikraav ümber ning vesi sees. Kahjuks, viimane minimaalne renovatsioon oli tehtud, arvatavasti, Jugoslaavia ajal, sees ei ole mitte midagi peale seinte — tühjus ja praht, ühesõnaga kogu kindlus on «lubjatud hauad».



Auvärav asub Põhja-Makedoonia riigikogu kõrval ja on ehitatatud nagu teisedki suured pompoossed kujud ja hooned kahetuhandete alguses nn «Antiquisatsiooni poliitika» raames. Kõik need pseudo-kreeka teosed, ehitatud kreeklaste kiuste, pidid ju näitama, et Makedoonial (tol ajal ilma prefiksita «Põhja») on õigus Vana Kreeka tõelina pärija olla.



Arheoloogilised muuseumid tekitavad minus, tavaliselt, innustust, kuid ometi see Skopjes jättis mind absoluutselt külmaks — tohutu hoone, milles on ainult üks korrus avatud ning seal väga vähe vanakreeka ja vana rooma eksponaate. Küllap sellest on ilmselgelt näha, et Põhja-Makedoonia pretensioonid Vana Kreeka pärija olla on tühjad sõnad.



Peale pseudoklassitsismi Skopjes on palju tõesti vaatamisväärsusi — väiksed kohvikud maitsva süüaga, armsad nurgakesed, vabad inimesed, kes suhtuvad irooniaga oma valitsuse klassikaaliste pretensioonide vastu. Kõik see on tõeline segu, mõnikord ärritav, mõnikord innustav.




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Factors Influencing Social Distance of Health, Social and Police Workers to LGBT People in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

BACKGROUND: Studies in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia region have demonstrated that negative attitudes toward homosexuality pose serious barriers in obtaining social services. Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM) conducted a regional survey on attitudes of gate keepers from police, healthcare and social care towards LGBT aimed at measuring social distance and prevalence of prejudice towards LGBT people as barriers to these services.

MЕTHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Macedonia (2017) in local languages. 712 respondents from healthcare, social care and police were recruited through snowball sampling. Social distance to LGBT was measured by Bogardus’ scale and respondents’ estimation of their social status. Data was analysed with bivariate, cluster, and regression analysis.

RESULTS: 57% respondents were women, median age 38, 77% religious, median work duration 11 years; 45% of medical and 41% of social workers had clients from LGBT. Social and medical workers are less distanced to LGBT than police. 59% social workers, 23% medical workers and 5% police workers accept same-sex marriage. 43% social workers, 10% medical workers and none of police workers accept children adoption by same-sex couples. Several factors influence respondents’ level of social distance and readiness to accept equality: higher age is associated with higher social distance; being medical or social workers is strongly associated with bigger social distance; the more respondents interact with LGBT, the less distance they have and the greater their readiness is to accept equality; belonging to Islam is associated with higher prevalence of prejudice towards LGBT.

CONCLUSIONS: LGBT program implementation Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Macedonia faces high opposition from local social services. Importance of human rights as an integral part of effective health services may be underestimated.

Moskotina R. et al. Study on the Attitudes of Staff of Key Social Services of Five Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia towards LGBT People, Conducted within the Framework of ECOM's Regional Program "Right to Health" / R. Moskotina, N. Dmitruk, O. Trofimenko, Y. Privalov, M. Kasianczuk / The Eurasian Coalition on Male Health. — Tallinn, 2017. — 94 p.
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Inadequate MSM and Trans Communities Engagement in HIV Decision-making: Measuring Participation Levels in Eastern Europe and Central Asia – Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Ukraine and Tajikistan

Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM) initiated a project in Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries to scale-up responses to growing HIV epidemics among MSM/trans people through advocacy, fundraising and empowered community engagement in policies and service provision. ECOM conducted an assessment of gay/bisexual/trans (GBT) community development; levels of epidemics and services available; recognition of MSM/trans people in national HIV policies; involvement of GBT leaders and MSM/trans service organizations in national HIV program governance; domestic investments in HIV services for MSM/trans people.

Data, according to the study protocol and scoring tools, were collected through literature review and semi-structured interviews with representatives of GBT/MSM groups, service organizations and other national and international stakeholders.

The scoring shows, that the involvement of MSM and trans people in HIV decision-making processes ranges from 29% (Belarus and Tajikistan) to 73% (Ukraine), with the majority of countries falling below 50%. While all the countries indicate MSM as key population in HIV policy documents, services are funded predominantly by the Global Fund. Trans people are recognized as a key population only in Kyrgyzstan; there is absolute lack of data on them across the countries. Constant turnover of GBT leadership is observed across the countries.

Regional and country-specific recommendations were produced. The major recommendations are: 1) to increase community representation in decision-making bodies and national research, related to HIV response; 2) to develop national standards of providing HIV related services for key populations; 3) to provide extensive technical support to national MSM and trans community organizations to empower local leadership.

The assessment showed insufficient levels of MSM and trans communities engagement in HIV decision-making processes in all countries under study. The assessment can serve as a powerful tool for measuring the progress of institutionalization and quality control of HIV services for MSM/trans people.

Authors: S. Chikhladze, V. Djuma, M. Kasianchuk, S. Orbelyan, R. Stuikyte, S. Sheremet

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Assessment of Size Estimation studies among MSM and Trans People in Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine

Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM) made the evaluation of existing size estimation (SE) studies in 8 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA). Program planning for MSM can be more efficient if there are accurate estimates of the size of these populations. MSM SE studies are often sub-standard, due to inadequate sampling and political motivations to downplay the existence of certain subgroups.

Review of the existing MSM SE studies was conducted. Assessment protocol and tool was elaborated assessing the existed SE surveys: existence of surveys, reliability of data, recency, use by stakeholders, availability of data on national and regional level. Experts from each country from both governmental and non-governmental institutions participated in the assessment process. The modification of the Delphi technique used to achieve the consensus.

SE of MSM has been conducted in all target countries. However, SE was not done regularly and has not been updated in target countries, except for Armenia and Ukraine. In the majority of countries the research underestimates true number of MSM population (less than 1% of adult male populations in countries). The studies are subject to a number of limitations (small sample size; number of sites; accuracy of census data; difficulties to reach hidden MSM groups; age restriction; differences in definition of MSM, etc.). As a rule, MSM are not involved in the process of survey planning, implementation, analysis and/or management. Part of NGOs/communities do not trust the data coming from SE studies conducted by state and consensus on estimation was not reached. SE of trans population in the region was conducted only in Armenia, but the results are not published yet.

Although MSM SE results are recognized by national HIV programs of target countries, national budgets allocate little to no resources to HIV interventions targeting them. Better communication and collaboration between state institutions and NGO sector as well as effective advocacy can improve the state funding of MSM oriented services. SE should be conducted regularly and qualified representatives from LGBT community organizations should be fully involved in planning, conduction and analysis of SE.

Authors: Chikhladze, Sergo; Kasianchuk, Maxim; Djuma, Vitaly
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