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Daryana Kotseva
began by describing the steps taken over the last
five years to meet the requirements necessary for
Bulgaria to join the European Union. Bulgaria was
required to put in place, through government
legislation, policies in two areas: one reflecting
the European strategy on action plans for (a)
employment and the other for (b) gender
equality. The employment strategy required the
provision of equal opportunities and equal treatment
of women and men. Gender equality, in addition,
required women and men to participate equally in
business and in the areas of production in decision
making, and in social and cultural life.
(a) Employment: Bulgaria began ten years ago
to develop their plans to satisfy the requirements
to join the EU. Women were more likely to be
unemployed; were paid less; did more low paid manual
work and had fewer educational qualifications. There
were also the traditional barriers to overcome - eg
employers preferring to hire men even for low pad
jobs. National Action Plans were drawn up in the
years 2005 - 2007 to make changes. Some were
flexible working times to accommodate women with
family responsibilities; child care; opportunities
for training and obtaining qualifications, computer
skills and more part-time work. In 2007, the project
"In support of motherhood" set up family centres for
children with special help given to single mothers,
with information about child health, employment and
the availability of flexible child care.
(b) Gender Equality: Bulgaria's aim here was
to create an ' environment' through legislation. In
2004 a law on 'protection against discrimination'
was passed with the purpose of achieving a minimum
of 40% representation of women in public life in
State and local authorities, with child care
arrangements in place. However, in 2006, this was
repealed as it was considered 'positive
discrimination' by the European Court of Justice.
Instead, two amendments were made:
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The principle of
equal treatment of women and men with regard to
training employment and conditions of work were to
be implemented
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Women were not
to be employed to do work detrimental to their
health with very strict conditions for employing
pregnant women. Parental leave is granted up to
the age of three, but the law does not distinguish
between women and men. There are also definitions
and rulings on maternity leave.
Trafficking:
Because of its geographical location as a gate to
Europe, Bulgaria is a transit country for migrants,
mostly from Africa and Asia en route to the EU
countries. The main entry point is the
Bulgarian/Turkish border and the exit point is at
the Bulgarian/Greek border. Another route comprising
mainly ex-Soviet Union countries is through Greece.
Trafficking has been a criminal offence since 2003
in Bulgaria. Programmes have been set up at local
level with a national commission to oversee them. |
Their focus is
upon the protection and support of trafficked
persons. Unaccompanied children are looked after by
social workers and are given safe accommodation
immediately in a central shelter. They live in safe
houses throughout the country until they can either
be returned home or given safe permanent
accommodation with medical and psychological care,
There are also three crisis centres which specialise
in unaccompanied child victims including one in
Sofia and a special shelter for mothers and children
set up in Bourgas.
Some statistics were given: the total number of
victims trafficked between January 2004 and January
2007 was 243. Victims have been trafficked for a
range of purposes - sexual exploitation, labour,
begging, delinquency and adoption. Up to now there
have been 19 cases of adoption. The majority of
victims were female, but a few male victims were
trafficked for begging or labour. Children were
highly represented in all forms of trafficking: 13%
in 2004; 33% in 2006; 28% in 2006. Members of ethnic
minority communities were particularly vulnerable to
trafficking for sex, labour, begging and
delinquency: 81./8% in 2004; 88.9% in 2005; 92.3% in
2006.
Domestic Violence: Bulgaria, in line with
other Member States, developed a programme of
prevention and protection for domestic violence in
2007/2008. This programme includes the setting up of
shelters; provision of legal advice; and social
help. Children often become witnesses or victims of
such violence. In the first three months of 2007,
831 children were identified as victims of violence
and 80% of these are the result of violence in the
family. Since the adoption of the law on Domestic
Violence, 2092 legal claims were made in 2006. There
is clearly a need to study these figures to see how
effective the measures are and to ensure that
protection under the law is complete.
In conclusion Daryana Kotseva mentioned the
important role played by the hundred or so NGOs
which shape the women's movement' in Bulgaria.
Through their united efforts they have addressed the
issues of gender equality and the elimination of
discrimination against women. They also assisted in
the drafting of legislation for protection against
trafficking and domestic violence. The women's
organisations have established good relationships
with state authorities, the media and public
organisations and thus playa prominent role in
Bulgaria's social life.
Discussion: There was considerable discussion
on several points including the declining birthrate
in all EU countries. With regard to child care - in
Bulgaria parents pay for child care but maternity
leave is generous. A mother receives her full salary
for nine months; if she prefers to remain a home
after the birth, her pay is reduced for up to three
years. The total number of women who come to the UK
to work was 4,000 with three month work permits (as
at the week previous to the meeting), compared to
Romanian women who numbered 8,000. |
