The development of policies and mechanisms on gender equality is a requirement for the accession of Bulgaria to EU. Such policies are included in the First National Report on the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, as well as in the measures provided by the government for the implementation of the commitments on Chapter 13 in the negotiations for the accession of Bulgaria to EU. They can be based on:
- Stimulating the political and social sensitivity to gender equality issues.
- Establishing executive bodies, responsible for gender equality.
- Studying indicators for equal treatment of women and men, providing the necessary information for developing and implementation of relevant gender equality policies.
Although it is declared that there is a political will for a clear formulation of national gender equality policy and adoption of relevant legislation, the process still lags behind. The adoption of legislation guaranteeing rights of protection against discrimination was favored by the process of harmonization of the Bulgarian legislation with the EU primary and secondary law. However, Bulgaria still has not adopted specific gender equality legislation.
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