Rights of the child and gender equality are among the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency priorities
13 October 2017 News
The National Coordinating Mechanism on Human Rights held its Fifth Session under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister Yuri Sterk at the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Addressing the participants, Deputy Minister Sterk thanked all responsible institutions for their fine cooperation and good communication with stakeholders. He presented Bulgaria’s key priorities in the area of human rights within the context of the forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They include protection of the rights of the child, promotion of gender equality, protection of the rights of people with disabilities, and protection of the most vulnerable groups. In addition, he pointed out that during the Presidency Bulgaria will be working for the Union’s more effective participation in the international organisations.
Taking part in the meeting were the deputy ministers of interior, justice and health, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria Maya Manolova, the chairpersons of the State Agency for Child Protection, the Agency for People with Disabilities and the Agency for Social Assistance, experts of the line ministries and central-government departments, as well as representatives of the non-governmental sector.
The discussants considered the procedure for the adoption of a bill upgrading the Ombudsman’s status and broadening the powers of the institution so as to be able to provide more effective protection to Bulgarian citizens.
Bulgaria’s obligations on human rights issues at the international level also figured high on the agenda. The State Agency for Child Protection presented a report on Bulgaria’s readiness to accede to the Third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Stock was taken of the recommendations addressed to Bulgaria with regard to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as of progress in the preparation of the delegation for the forthcoming defence of the national report under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment in November 2017. The participants also discussed the submission of Bulgaria’s Universal Periodic Review mid-term report to the UN Human Rights Council at the end of 2018.
Deputy Minister Sterk expressed his conviction that by the measures considered and the progress made, by responsibly honouring the country’s commitments and successfully presenting its achievements in the human rights area, Bulgaria will project an improved image with the international community.
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