Оn the 29-th of March, 2006 in the Parliament was held a panel discussion on gender equality, organized by the Social Democratic Women Network and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Regional Office - Sofia. The themes of discussion were the Bulgarian delegation’s participation in the 50-th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the adoption of the European Pact for Gender Equality on the Brussels European Council (23-24 March 2006). The discussion was attended by MPs and NGOs.

The discussion was opened by Mrs. Nadia Radeva, the Bulgarian delegation’s leader on the 50-th session of the CSW. She informed the audience that further efforts should be done for establishing of a strong and effective national institutional mechanism on gender equality in Bulgaria, especially in developing of sustainable policy on gender equality and in adopting of relevant legislation. In this respect she informed that in January 2006 new working group chaired by the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy - Javor Dimitrov was established for working on a draft Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men.  The tree parliamentary coalitions are working together being in cooperation on the formula – 40 % of women’s representation in all decision making levels.

Mrs. Radeva informed also for the adoption of the European Pact for Gender Equality on the Brussels European Council. More information for the event and the text of the Pact – Annex II of the Presidency’s Conclusions may be found on the website of the Council of EU or through this link. 

Mrs. Radeva informed participants that all documents for ratification of the Optional protocol to CEDAW are prepared and are to be approved by institutions under the procedure for interinstitutional coordination, so the Protocol’s ratification by the Parliament may be is a recent event