site.btaGender Equality Is Necessity, Not Just Political Goal, Labour Minister Says at UN High-Level Meeting

Addressing the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Bulgarian Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov said that gender equality is not merely a political objective but a necessity, the Labour Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

“In recent years, the debate on this issue has shifted in the wrong direction. To a large extent, the topic has been discredited. That is why it is absolutely vital to return the discussion to where it belongs – to women’s rights, to their equal access to education, the labour market, development, life opportunities, and the right to choose. It is time for the debate to focus on justice,” Minister Gutsanov stressed.

He reaffirmed Bulgaria’s commitment to advancing gender equality and emphasized that the country has aligned its national priorities with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Equality, Development and Peace, as well as with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Gutsanov highlighted that Bulgaria has adopted a strong legal framework and policies aimed at overcoming gender inequality. He noted that the Labour and Social Policy Ministry is working to ensure equal access to the labour market and equal economic independence, as well as to reduce pay and income disparities between women and men.

“Combating violence and ensuring protection and support for victims are also extremely important,” Gutsanov added. He underlined the need for joint efforts to achieve this goal.