Women's Rights in Bulgaria

Bulgaria was one of the first countries in Europe, which admitted women's voting rights in 1944, even ahead of France and Italy. Bulgaria also stands at the prestigious second place in Europe, only behind Portugal, for enrollment of women in higher education institutions. Women represent 57 % of the student body in these institutions. The country is still in the transition period of recognizing legally some of the basic rights that women must have. Domestic violence is a wide spread phenomenon in Bulgaria but its comprehension and articulation in public are still in its embryonic stage. Domestic violence is still not considered to be a violation of human rights since it occurs within the private sphere of the family. Cases of domestic violence between family members are based on the principle of non-intervention by the state. The fact that domestic violence is the most widespread form of violence against women in Bulgaria is confirmed by data compiled by the centers for providing counseling and support to women who are survivors of violence. These centers are run by рNadia Dс Foundation (more than 90% of the cases) and at рAnimusс Association (more than 50% of the cases). The first Bulgarian Program that attempted to improve the situation by responding to the increasing violence against women and the lack of proper care for victims of violence was initiated in 1995 by the Bulgarian Womenуs Union. The first and still the only shelter is run by рNadia Centerс Foundation, established as a part of this program in 1996. It is a psycho-social center for helping women-victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse by offering them medical, psychological, psychiatric and social assistance, as well as assistance in dealing with the authorities. Statistics show a constantly increasing number of phone calls requesting information and help from the Nadia Center. The Penal Code envisages legal protection for women in the case of sexual harassment in the work place by taking advantage of economic dependence or official position. It must be stressed that the mentioned Article 153 of the Penal Code is from the section called рDebaucheryс and applies only to sexual intercourse by abuse of menуs power on the woman. Despite the fact that the existence of sexual harassment in the workplace is still not officially admitted as a spreading phenomenon, it still remains the obligation of the State not only to incriminate it as a crime in the most severe cases, but also to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for all. There is no specific case law for harassment in the work place. I think that the countryуs legislators are on the right track of creating the proper laws, which would allow the laws to fully protect the Bulgarian women. Sources cited: