PRESS RELEASE
Alliance for Protection from Violence Based on Genera and Foundation Bulgarian Gender Research on the occasion of the 59^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in the United Nations, New York, 9^th-20^th of March 2015.

On the 9^th of March 2015 the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon opened the 59^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in the UN. During the opening the Secretary-General focused on the main topic which the session is dedicated – 20^th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing 1995) and the progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The session aims to provide an overview of achievements during the past 20 years after the adoption of this first document which pushes for real rights for women in various fields. It is expected that the session will end with the adoption of the Declaration, document which at the moment is coordinated between the countries and which will outline the future steps for achieving gender equality and empowerment of women after the year 2015.

The Bulgarian delegation this year is composed of Svetlana Angelova who is a national representative from GERB and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Labor, social and demographic policy of the 43^rd National Assembly, Genoveva Tisheva who is the representative of Foundation “Bulgarian Center for Gender Studies” and candidate of Republic of Bulgaria to the UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Iliana Stoicheva who is a representative of the Bulgarian platform to the European Women’s Lobby and member of the Board of the Foundation” Bulgarian Center for Gender Studies”, Diana Videva who is a board member of the Alliance for Protection from Violence and Association “Demetra” and Alliance for Protection from Gender Based Violence, and Diana Dimova chairman of “ Center Dynamics” and a member of Alliance for Protection from Gender Based Violence.

As with every other year the 59^th Session of the Commission makes it possible to organize parallel events on various topics related to women’s issues including stereotyping the image of women in the media and advertisement, violence against women and young girls in the internet, domestic violence and violence against older women and more. During the first week accented focus was given on the topic of prostitution and traffic of women and young girls for sexual exploitation. This is a current problem and participation of MPs, senators, and ministers from Britain, Sweden, and France in the discussion organized by the non-government organizations (European Women’s Lobby, the Coalition to Criminalize the Purchase of Sexual Services) highlighted once again the need for concentrated efforts between institutions and civil society in the fight for the abolition of “Slavery in the Modern World”, as it was called by the Minister on the topic of equality of Sweden.

The topic of violence against women and young girls was presented on March 11^th, 2015. Participants were Executive Director of UN Women, Executive Director of the UN Fund for Population, Senator of the Parliament of Australia, Ambassador of Goodwill UN Women, the Indian actor and director Farhan Akhtar and president of NGO for Women’s Rights. Emphasis was placed on the need to greater involvement by men in combating the violence against women and young girls. Farhan Akhtar performed his original song written specifically to support women and girls affected by violence.

March 12^th, 2015 will be one of the memorable dates of the 59^th Session. In Hall 1 of the United Nations Equality Now, together with 35,000 organizations from 160 different countries was announced the launch of the campaign of the abolition of laws that discriminate against women and discriminatory practices in the application of the legislation. Statistics show that during the year 1985, 189 countries in the world had discriminatory laws and today 20 years later things have changed very little. The campaign was supported by two amazing women – Jane Fonda and Sarah Jones. The involvement of these two actresses in achieving equality and support in the campaign was a sure sign of the need for concentrated efforts from around the world and from representatives from various areas and generations.

On March 12^th, 2015 during the 59^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in the prestigious hall of the UN Library a joint event was held consisting of Bulgaria, Italy, and Czech Republic on the topic of “Productivity, Wellbeing, and Gender Policies”. The Bulgarian participants in this event were: Ambassador Stefan Tafrov, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations, MP Ms. Svetlana Angelova and Mrs. Genoveva Tisheva, the Bulgarian candidate for the Commission on the Status of Women in the UN. In his speech Ambassador Stefan Tafrov stressed the importance of women’s rights as human rights, with a special focus on the economic aspects of the issue, noting that promotion of women’s employment leads to economic growth. Ambassador Tafrov confirmed the support of Bulgaria for the proposed Goal 5 regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment in the currently prepared Development Agenda after the year 2015, as well as the full integration of women’s rights in the new framework for development.

The MP Mrs. Svetlana Angelova presented the progress achieved by Bulgaria in the field of gender equality and women’s rights over the past 20 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. She made particular emphasis on the actions taken by the Country’s State Legislate to ensure real progress of women which will ensure their unhindered exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms equally with men. Mrs. Angelova presented the measures taken by Bulgaria to provide opportunities for women to grow in their professional and family life including through promotion of great involvement and participation of men in childcare.

Mrs. Genoveva Tisheva presented the campaign Man Care, found in September of 2014, in which the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation is an active partner with the NGOs and launched the theme “To be a Father.” The campaign is part of the international initiative for closer involvement of the father in the family and raising children. As part of the campaign special videos, radio advertisements, and posters with images of men with their children and their messages to the real man who devotes time to his family and children were presented for the first time in such a high forum.

The event with the participation of Bulgaria passed with keen interest and full hall. The Bulgarian participants received numerous congratulations for making significant progress in terms of women’s rights in Bulgaria including from the Italian participants who were impressed by the experience by the Bulgarians. Following the event Mrs. Svetlana Angelova gave an interview for the television station “ERNO” which is based in the Sarajevo television network for South Eastern Europe.

Upon completion of the session the UN Bulgarian Delegation will organize a press conference to present the adopted by the member states Document for development after the year 2015.

March 13^th 2015
Contact Iliana Stoicheva after March 22^nd 2015 at phone: +359029635357

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