Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) is among the recipients of the 2017 edition of Human of the Year – the annual awards for contribution to human rights and human rights protection of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee. The fund received its award in an all-new category – Advocates of the Year, in recognition of their tireless and dedicated work against gender stereotypes and against gender-based violence.

Among the initiatives recognized by the awards committee are the fund’s advocacy towards ratification of the Istanbul Convention; the March for Women’s Rights in Sofia on March 8, 2017; a donation campaign for women and children victims of violence; the campaign Women Drive, which fights stereotypes on female drivers; the newly created Fund for Art Projects by Female Artists, which supports the higher representation of women in professional art and the cultural sector, as well as a series of trainings designed to help teachers and students to better recognize and fight domestic violence. The awards committee recognizes that the BFW has also helped fund numerous smaller NGOs for projects that aim to empower young women and girls.

The Human of the Year awards mark their 10th anniversary on December 10 – the International Human Rights Day, their aim being to give publicity to courageous human rights causes (learn more at www.humanoftheyear.org).