site.btaBulgaria Supports Gender Equality Strategy at European Level

Bulgaria Supports Gender Equality Strategy at European Level

Brussels/Sofia, December 7 (BTA) - Bulgaria supports the introduction and implementation of a Strategy for equality between women and men, which would include specific commitments for the separate member states, Deputy Prime Minister and Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivailo Kalfin said in his statement at the EU Employment and Social Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, Kalfin's Ministry said. "There are very good practices in Bulgaria and their targeted implementation should continue both in order to increase women's representation in the labour market and encourage men's involvement in family life and raising of children," Kalfin is quoted as saying.

The participants in the meeting discussed the draft of a Strategy for equality between women and men 2016-2019 proposed by the European Commission. It comes as a response to the problem with the low number of women in the management bodies at EU level. At present, the member states have adopted the non-binding target of 40 per cent participation of women in managerial bodies but most countries are yet far from achieving it.

According to a representative study of the European Commission, the average female representation in companies' boards is 16.6 per cent. Bulgaria is close to this figure with 15.2 per cent. The country boasts a series female representation in the administration and the judiciary: women account for two thirds of the magistrates in all national courts and 43 per cent of prosecutors. Thirty per cent of the Bulgarian MEPs are women, while in the incumbent National Assembly they account for 20 per cent.