For the structure and the organization of National Council on Gender Equality Work towards Council of Ministers

Appendix to Article 2

     Art. 1. The National Council on Gender Equality with the Council of Ministers, named forward "National Council", is a Body for consultations, cooperation and coordination among the governmental and Non-Governmental Bodies in the elaboration and realization of the National Policy on Gender Equality.

     Art. 2. National Council:

     1.   Consults the Council of Ministers;

     2.  Discusses projects of normative and other acts, related with gender equality issues, and presents positions on them;

     3.  Discusses projects of Council of Ministers Acts and presents a position for their relevance with the objectives of the Gender Equality Policy;

     4.  Coordinates the actions of the State Bodies and the Non-governmental organizations in realization of the National Gender Equality Policy and the international undertakings of Republic of Bulgaria in this sphere;

     5.  Independently or jointly with the Commission for Protection against Discrimination submits measures for realization of the National Policy on Gender Issues in Republic of Bulgaria;

     6. Maintains contacts with similar State Bodies abroad, as well as, with international organizations with similar tasks and spheres of action;

     7. Supports the implementation of important national and regional projects of the social partners and the NGOs in the sphere of gender equality, harmonizing work with family and parental duties and gives account of the final results;

     8. Organizes the conduction of researches under topics related with its activity.

     Art. 3.  (1) The National Council consists of:

     1.  Chair – Minister of Labour and Social Policy;

     2. Members.

     (2) The National Council Members are permanent and associated.

     (3) Permanent members of the National Council are by one representative from:

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Economic, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Ministry of Regional Development and Urbanization, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Environment and Waters, Ministry of Energetic and Energetic Resources, Minister of State Administration, Minister without Portfolio, Minister on Europe Integration, State Agency for Child Protection, Executive Agency for Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, State Refugees Agency, National Insurance Institute and National Statistical Institute.

     (4) Associated members of the national Council are representatives of other organizations, academic institutes, national organizations of the social partners or NGOs, invited for the purpose form the National Council’ Chair.

     (5) The representatives from the Ministries under Art. 3 are Deputy Ministers, and the institutional representatives are their heads. Representatives of the Minister of State Administration, Minister on European Issues and Minister without portfolio are Heads of their Cabinets.  The nominated representatives of the Ministries and institutions under par. 3 could be replaced in the national Council sessions from authorized employees.

     (6) Similar public (nongovernmental) organizations have the right to form associations for participation in the National Council, for which they submit relevant report.

     (7) In the National Council work the representatives of the associated members have the right to deliberative vote.

    Art. 4. The representatives' presence on the National Council sessions is determined from the session's theme.

     Art. 5.  (1) The Nongovernmental organizations, willing to take participation in the work of the National Council as associated members, submit written statement for participation and enclose the following documents:

     1.  finding for registration;

     2.  statute;

     3. list of the local structures with address and telephone of their official representatives;

     (2) The Chairman of the National Council have the right to request additional information, as well as to conduct identifications regarding the authenticity of the submitted documents.

     Art. 6.  The Chairman of the National Council:

     1.  represents the National Council;

     2.  gathers the National Council at least once a three months or by a proposal of at least one fourth of its permanent members;

     3.  manages its activity;

     4. proposes to the Council of Ministers materials, proposals and statements of the National Council;

     Art. 7.  (1) The sessions of the national Council are regular, if they are attended by at least two thirds of the Council's permanent members.

     (3) Written materials for consideration during a National Council's session are submitted five days before the session.

     (4) For each session of the National Council is prepared a report, which is signed form the Chair and the Secretary. The documents treated during the session and the decisions are attached towards the report are attached towards the report. Copies from the report are sent to the members of the National Council in seven days after the session.

     Art. 8. The administrative and technical service of the National Council is provided by secretariat – The Unit Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.

     Art. 9.  (1) Secretary to the National Council is the Head of the Unit for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.

     (2) the secretariat prepares the sessions of the National Council:

     1.  prepares an agenda;

     2.  writes a report for the adopted during the sessions decisions and coordinates and controls their implementation;

     3.  by order of the National Council’s Chair conducts preliminary consultations with different institutions and organizations, as well as, other activity, related with the implementation of the National Council tasks.

    Art. 10. By suggestion of the National Council’s permanent members in the institutions they represent are nominated certain employees, responsible for realization of the coordinated from the National Council policy for equal opportunities of women and men.

     Art. 11. The National Council has the authority to form expert task forces and other relief departments.

     Art. 12. The National Council adopts regulations for consultancies and cooperation on a local level.

     Art. 13. (1) The National Council coordinates its activity with the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, with the ombudsman and with the Council for National Development with the President of Republic of Bulgaria.

     (2) Authorized representatives of the institutions under para 1 have the right to participate in the National Council sessions as observers.