site.btaOmbudsman to Support Comprehensive Reform in Protection of Rights of People with Disabilities

Pernik, Western Bulgaria, July 7 (BTA) - "The Ombudsman will commit to ensuring a comprehensive reform in protection of the people with disabilities and will support all three bills that are being drawn up in the field," said Deputy Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva on Saturday. She attended the opening of the 12th national festival of the people with disabilities in the western town of Pernik. The festival is organized by the Union of Disabled People in Bulgaria and the Municipality of Pernik. Attending are people with disabilities from across the country and neigbouring Serbia, Macedonia and Romania. The festival is a vehicle to show that the people with disabilities are abled people, talented in many arts.

The personal care bill drawn up by the Ombudsman is connected with another two bills that are currently prepared by the Labour Ministry: a bill on the people with disabilities and a bill on social services. The decision was made following a series of meetings between the Ombudsman and organizations of people with disabilities.

The idea is for all three bills to be submitted together in Parliament on October 1 and be considered en bloc. This will make the reform concerning the rights of people with disabilities comprehensive, said Kovacheva. In her words, the personal care bill resolves only one of the problems of people with disabilities, albeit a very important one, to leave their home and lead a full life.

Kovacheva said: "We continue to believe that the personal care bill is the key to exercising all rights." She specified that the main idea of the reform is to transpose into national legislation the convention on the rights of the persons with disabilities, ratified by Bulgaria in 2012. "At the heart of the comprehensive reform should be the individual approach. Now money is given without taking into consideration specific needs," said Kovacheva.