Newspaper Shumenska Zaria , 18

Newspaper “Shumenska zarya”/Shumen Sunbeam/

Women’s participation discussed at seminar

18.04.2006

By Dobrinka Russeva

“Women’s participation in Bulgarian political life”was the topic of the seminar held yesterday in Shumen. The project is being implemented by the Liberal Politological Institute, Sofia (LPI) with the assistance of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, UK.

The National assembly deputies Svetoslav Spassov, National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) and Marusya Lyubcheva from the Coalition for Bulgaria, deputy-governors Dragomir Dragnev and Ebazer Redjeb, deputymayor of Shumen Donka Ivanova, the chairman of LPI Nikolay Paunov, municipality counselors,directors of administrative structures, mayors and deputy-mayors from the region took part in the forum. Greetings to the forum were sent by the deputy of NMSII Anelia Atanasova, chairman of theWomen’s Liberal Network.

The Project Manager Evelina Stoyanova presented project goals to support and develop the democratic processes in Bulgaria and the inclusion of women in political life. The main aimis encouragementof women to participate actively in public and political life at national and local level. It is expected that through such seminars all over the country the knowledge and awareness of society and the authorities will be increased on issues suchas gender equality andthe necessity formore women to take part in the decision making process.

Svetoslav Spassov, chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for children, youth and sport spoke about liberal politics for stimulating women’s participation in political life. He defined women, including those in Shumen, as active and declared that they should be encouraged to participate in the coming elections. According to him it is necessaryto establish a commission for women and family issues in the National Assembly because there are numerous problems that concern them. Svetoslav Spassov is preparing a preposition that will soon be presented to the Parliament and which would legitimise the pre-matrimonial contract. Spassov believes that common property which has been acquired during unmarried life together should be a benefit for the child. This is needed because relationships like that, and their dissolution, leave the child as a victim. To support his idea for more women in the government Svetoslav Spassov presented results from a sociological survey according to which 56% declare they would prefer a woman for president and another 73 % prefer women for deputies.

During the forum there was discussed the role and participation of women in the parliament, gender equality, EU policies concerning women and their participation in public and political life. National legislation relating to women’s participation in politics, strategies for stimulating women’s participation, and opportunities in civil society for solving this problem were amongst the other issues discussed.

A PublicCouncil on Gender Equality will be established

A proposal for establishing the PublicCouncil onGender Equality was made during yesterday’s seminar – a consultative body will be formed. The chairman of the Municipality Council Daniela Russeva is goingto bring the proposal to the next session of the Council. The idea is to work at a local level for the equal rights of women and to organize informative campaigns among political structures and citizens for the place and the role of women inmodern society.