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Description
The absence of in-depth sociological studies of the problems and needs of women in Bulgaria makes it impossible to implement targeted and consistent policies promoting gender equality. The latter can be seen in the proposed draft National Strategy promoting Equality between Women and Men 2021-2030. Reliance only on the statistics from the National Statistical Institute and Eurostat fails to reflect the daily challenges, regularized inequalities and intersectional discrimination the women across the country we work with every day face. Our experience shows that issues do not only boil down to domestic violence but many of the issues remain invisible and unrecognized. The project aims at carrying out quality sociological study highlighting the issues facing women from various social groups (ethnic minorities, LBTI, female migrants, women with disabilities, women from rural areas) across the 6 planning regions. The findings from the study will be included in an analytical report which will help develop an advocacy campaign to hold an informed public debate and formulate public policies at national and local level based on data and evidence. The volunteers from SHE in Bulgaria network (approximately 40 women in 11 Bulgarian cities), which the foundation has developed over the last 3 years via the social format of SHE in, will have special training for civic involvement and advocacy. The training will help them develop the needed competence to hold local advocacy campaigns for gender equality. The study, the report, the advocacy strategy and the boosted capacity of the women we work with at local level to participate in decision-making and advocacy will contribute to a fruitful public debate about the issues facing women across the country and how to address them efficiently by appropriate short- and long-term measures.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the lack of detailed data on the needs, the challenges and the equality of women in Bulgaria, which could be used for the development of evidence based policies.
The report''s findings were shared with various stakeholders, from volunteers to local and national decision-makers and thus enhanced the public debate on the topic of women''s issues and needs. They provided a starting point for formulating sustainable evidence based policies to promote equality. Based on the report, an advocacy strategy was developed, which aims to influence decision-making in the long term and to put the topics at the center of the equality debate through personal stories and with the analyzes of the different dimensions of the barriers to women''s participation in public life in Bulgaria. The project reached the general public through various forms of information such as publications, short videos (reels), visualizations and feedback from events.
A large-scale qualitative study was conducted, including 42 biographical interviews with women from all 6 planning regions in the country, of different ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic status. The survey was conducted according to a previously developed methodology, and the results were summarized in a report with all the proposals arising from the answers of the respondents. An Advocacy Campaign was held to debate and formulate concrete policies. 3 policy birefs were published – ‘Women''s participation in politics’, ‘Long covid among women in Bulgaria’ and ‘Roma women and economic inequality’. The beneficiary prepared and distributed 6 opinions on topics affecting women and equality, took part in meetings of the National Council for the Equality of Women and Men, held meetings at the local, national and European level and participated in trainings to increase advocacy capacity.
See above.