A National Strategy for Promotion of Equality Between Women and Men for the period 2021-2030 was prepared by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP) according to the provisions of art. 5, Art. 6, para. 5, item 2 and art. 12 of the Law on gender equality and the implementation of the decision of the Council of Ministers № 368 of June 25, 2019.
The project represents a major program document outlining the strategic framework for the development of equality between women and men in the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2021-2030.
Equality of women and men means equal rights and obligations, equal opportunities for realization and for overcoming obstacles in all areas of public life. Women and men should be free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without restrictions on gender stereotypes and discrimination. Ensuring equality between women and men is a key factor in realizing the rights of all citizens.
The Strategy updates and upgrades on the previous document of the same name for the period 2016-2020, taking into account social, economic and political realities, ongoing and emerging challenges and trends, as well as progress in economic, political and social life in Bulgaria over the years. The document defines the vision and goal of the policy, for the implementation of which it outlines key actions in five priority areas.
The vision: In 2030, Bulgaria is a country in which women and men exercise their rights, develop freely and realize themselves in all spheres of social, economic and political life, without discrimination and gender stereotypes. The full development of the potential of women and men, the growth of income, the achievement of a better balance between personal and professional life, the more balanced representation of women and men in all spheres and at all levels and the greater satisfaction with life, contribute to the economic development of the modern democratic society in Bulgaria.
Priority areas:
1. Equality of women and men in the labor market and equal degree of economic independence;
2. Reduction of the gender differences in pay and income;
3. Promoting equality of women and men in decision-making processes;
4. Combating violence and protecting and supporting victims;
5. Overcoming gender stereotypes in various spheres of public life and sexism.
The document was submitted for public discussion on the Strategy.bg platform in the period from October 16 to November 16, 2020. The draft of the National Strategy, as well as all submitted positions can be seen on the platform HERE.
Bulgarian Fund for Women submitted its position, which was sent and published as part of the public consultation on November 13, 2020.
In it BFW expressed a number of disagreements with the proposed texts, suggesting significant additions, including in the vision and priority areas of the National Strategy, expressed the urgent need for the collection of more data and statistics, as well as the allocation of targeted funding to achieve the set goals. BFW also recommended the addition of new goals, measures and activities in implementation of the vision of the document and in line with the European Strategy for Gender Equality. BFW also disagreed with the proposed time frame of the 2021-2030 Strategy and proposed that the current Strategy cover the period 2021-2025/26, highlighting the dynamic national, European and global context, as well as the inconsistency with the time horizon of the European Equality Strategy of the Sexes.
You can see and download the text in full from HERE (available only in Bulgarian)
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