Codes
Labour Code
The Labour Code (1986, amended 2001) prohibits all sorts of discrimination, privileges, limitations based on nationality, origin, gender and race (Article 8(3): In the exercise of labour rights and duties no direct or indirect discrimination, privileges or restrictions shall be allowed on grounds of ethnicity, origin, sex, race, skin colour, age, political and religious convictions, affiliation to trade union and other public organizations and movements, family, social and property status and disability.). The amendment to the Code in 2001 introduced the principle of equal pay to women and men (Article 243). By the end of 2003 certain amendments to the Labour Code introduced the definitions of indirect discrimination (Supplementary Provisions, §1,7). Moreover, when advertising job vacancies employers will not have the right to set requirements relating to gender and age.
Family Code
The Family Code (1985, amended 1992) settles the relationship in marriage, relation and adoption, guardianship and trusteeship. The Family Code is based on the principle of “… equality of men and women …” ( Article 3)
Social Insurance Code
The Social Insurance Code (adopted 1999) states that the state public insurance shall be implemented on the principles of obligatory and comprehensive insurance and equality of the insured persons (Art. 3, 1 and 3).
Penal Code
The Bulgarian Penal Code classifies as criminal offences against the person rape, induction into prostitution and trafficking in human beings, as well as forcing to sexual intercourse through using material or employment dependence. The Penal Code creates criminal penalties for the infliction of severe and moderate physical injuries. Article 128 of the Penal Code states that the punishment for inflicting severe bodily injury on another person is imprisonment for three to ten years. Article 129 of the Penal Code describes the punishment for inflicting moderate bodily harm on another individual as deprivation of liberty for up to five years. Article 152 of the Penal Code imposes a punishment of three to fifteen years of imprisonment for rape. Punishment for sexual harassment is imposed only in cases in which sexual intercourse occurs between a woman and a man who has abused his power over her. The Code does not describe sexual harassment as a form of violence against women or gender discrimination in the workplace and does not prohibit harassment that does not involve intercourse. The trafficking in human beings is a criminal offense under the Bulgarian Penal Code
since 2002.
Last update: 22.02.2007
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