“There is no future than a feminist one!”. This is what one of the participants said during the international conference “Feminism is for All”, organized by Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the organization.   

On November 14, representatives of organizations supported by BFW, international experts on human rights issues, businesses and politicians participated in three thematic discussions in which they discussed the past and the successes of the last 20 years, the present and the challenges facing the civil sector, as well as plans and dreams for the future of women.  

One of the highlights was the presentation of initial results of research on BFW archive conducted by Lea Vajsova, PhD in Sociology and Senior Lecturer at Sofia University. It analyzed the documentation of all the projects supported by the Fund since its establishment in 2004 until 2023. The total number is 751, with 75% of them supported after 2018. The data shows that the financial growth of BFW for 2023 compared to 2004 is 75 times (~7500%). Analysis of the data also reveals key moments of growth in support for newly formed organizations, with the most impressive being their share in 2018 – 47% of the projects supported that year were by newly formed organizations and informal collectives. 

According to Dr. Vajsova, one possible interpretation is that this support comes in response to attacks on the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the so-called Istanbul Convention), and the large number of new organizations is evidence of the mobilization of civic and activist energy. The full study is yet to be published.   

During the discussion, representatives of organizations supported by BFW put this data in the context of real stories from their work. Maria Nikolova from the Hayachi Association in the town of. Novi Pazar told how, thanks to a lecture by BFW 20 years ago, a group of women from their region were inspired and registered their organization. Today they are actively working with the Roma community, providing health services for uninsured pregnant women and young mothers, and demonstrating how collaboration with local authorities can lead to institutional change. Olga Mineva, from Emprove Foundation, emphasized the need for long-term administrative support for the organizations. It is thanks to this type of support provided by BFW that Olga and a team of volunteers are creating a community of women who have survived and overcome violence and have become role models for other survivors. Kamelia Tseneva from the Lespectra Association said that the support from BFW came at a critical time for the LGBTI community, which has been subject to more frequent attacks in recent years. The organization aims to show the links between the different struggles of diverse groups of women, promoting cooperation and solidarity. 

During the discussion on current challenges, Diana Dimova from Mission Wings Foundation, Esther Martinez from RECLAIM, Belgium, Nino Ugrekelidze from Dalan Fund, Georgia, and Krasimira Velichkova from PP “We Continue the Change” shared the difficulties they face in their efforts for social change. They highlighted issues such as the erosion of rights, loss of lives, the criminalization of solidarity, and the shrinking space for civil society in Bulgaria, Europe, and globally. They also spoke about the growing attacks on human rights organizations, the passing of discriminatory legislation, and the particular challenges faced by women who choose to engage in politics. 

Krasimira Velichkova emphasized, “We have to stop talking about shrinking space, but about the fight for democracy.”

In the future-focused discussion, representatives from business and the arts explored potential solutions to some of the challenges highlighted in earlier parts of the event. Veneta Dimitrova from AVON Bulgaria spoke about the company’s long-standing partnership with BFW and its commitment to creating opportunities for women’s empowerment. Actress and vlogger Boryana Yovcheva, along with artist Albena Baeva, shared their experiences of using art as a powerful tool to challenge discrimination. 

“For me, there is no other future than a feminist one,” said Baeva, a beneficiary of the first edition of BFW Women’s Fund for Art Projects by Women Artists. 

Iliana Balabanova, President of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), addressed the future through the lens of European policies, highlighting the alarmingly low representation of women in the European Parliament (EP), the lowest since 1979. She emphasized the critical need for Bulgaria to transpose the EP Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence into national law to ensure better protection and support for victims of this grave issue. 

The conference “Feminism is for All” was attended by over 200 guests, including representatives from the civil sector, institutions, business, media, as well as ambassadors, politicians, and international experts. This event is part of a series of initiatives celebrating the 20th anniversary of BFW, which you can follow on the Fund’s website and social media channels. 

BFW Anniversary Celebration events were made possible with the support of AVON Bulgaria, Efty, Bulgarian National Radio, DOM Club, Profuz Digital, Red Devil Catering, Lidl, Photocorner, Bronco, Kings Valley, Gift Tube, Photosynthesis, Overcome Your Fears Cards, Mahala Independent Bookstore, Metta Space, The Hattonist, and Nejno Bile.