site.btaUPDATED Ladies' Forum Hosts Conference in Sofia

EU Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli will be the keynote speaker at a conference organized by the Ladies’ Forum Association in Sofia on Thursday, mottoed "The Power of Diversity: Changing the Stereotypes".

Dalli will present the EU requirements and legislative initiatives for rising to discrimination and stereotype challenges.

"I sincerely hope that Bulgaria will quite soon have the first regularly elected woman prime minister," Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said in his welcome remarks. He was apparently referring to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel, to whom the prime ministership is due to rotate in early March.

The PM recalled that so far Bulgaria has only had a single woman prime minister, and moreover in an interim government. The reference was to Reneta Indzhova, who was caretaker prime minister in 1994-1995.

In Denkov's words, women holding senior positions at State level are less numerous than those, say, in information technology, despite the many successful female political leaders, banking executives and researchers. The PM singled out as a positive trend Bulgaria's improved ranking in terms of gender equality to the middle of the countries in Europe. He noted that despite the impressive presence of women in scientific research, he is not aware of a single female rector of a higher educational establishment.

This year's event features three panel discussions: European perspective and Bulgarian Implementation; Innovations & Inclusion - next steps and programs; and Changing the stereotypes.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivanka Shalapatova will present the implementation of EU law in Bulgaria, and Inovation and Growth Minister Milena Stoycheva will share the latest trends in equality and inclusion practices.

Austria’s Ambassador Andrea Ikic-Bohm will talk about her country’s experience in this area.

The panellists include Bulgarian MEP Sergei Stanishev, Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation President Iliyana Raeva, and European Women on Boards CEO Kristen Anderson.

"The forum is intended as a platform for sharing ideas and experience to improve equality and inclusion in European society. The discussion will focus on key topics like combating stereotypes and removing barriers to equality. The idea is to achieve a tangible change in the business environment in Bulgaria," the organizers said.