The Commission against discrimination's Annual (activity?) report
26/04/2006
By
Desislava Petrova - BGO Gemini
The Bulgarian Commission for protection against discrimination submitted to the Parliament its annual report for the period 2005- March 2006
The Commission reports total 194 complaints raised by citizens, non-governmental organizations, syndicates and media. 89 proceedings have been raised according to the Bulgarian Law for protection against discrimination, as 35 of the raised complaints have been rejected to proceed by the Commission.
The total number of reported cases of discrimination, raised before the Commission is as follows:
1. ethnicity and race -38;
2. gender, human genome and the right of employment - 11;
3. nationality, citizenship, origin, religion and faith - 17;
4. beliefs, political affiliation, personal and social status - 23;
5. disability, sexual orientation and age - 13;
6. family and economical status - 8
7. ad hoc specific cases - 4;
8. multiple discrimination - 5.
During the reporting period the Commission has enacted total 3 statements for administrative malpractice; following a joint decision of the members 3 instructions with binding force to employers and state officers have been enacted; and 3 recommendations to state institutions.
In 2005 the Commission has spent financial resources for acquisition of long-term assets amounting on 608 665 BGL (311 205, 5 EUR), as follows:
§ 52-01 “Computers and hardware”– 73 366 BGL (37 751, 44 EUR)
§ 52-02 “Acquisition of buildings” – 97 792 BGL (50 000, 26 EUR)
§ 52-03 “Other equipment” – 17 562 BGL (8 979, 31 EUR)
§ 52-04 “Transportation (automobiles)” –396 665 BGL (202 811, 6 EUR)
§ 52-05 “Inventory” – 23 280 BGL (11 902, 87 EUR)
Apparently at first glance, the total number of reported cases and complaints to the Commission (194) does not match to the ones cited in their official report (amounting on 119). We strongly hope that is by involuntary mistake and as such, shall be corrected by the Commission. In interview from 26.04.2006 Kemal Eiup, the Chair of the Commission, says that the number of complaints based on Roma ethnicity is 19.
On 25th of January 2005 the antidiscrimination Commission held a meeting to introduce itself before the non-governmental sector in Bulgaria. The meeting took place on 25.01.2006 in hotel Rodina. The event is reported as meeting with NGOs on the official website of the Commission under section: http://kzd-nondiscrimination.com/npo.htm.
The same event is reported differently in other section – Seminars: http://kzd-nondiscrimination.com/seminars3.htm, where the same meeting is reported as “second training seminar” of non-governmental organizations dealing with discrimination.
BGO Gemini raised three complaints for discrimination based on sexual orientation before the Commission for protection against discrimination. The first complaint was raised on 27.12.2005; the other two complaints were raised on 20.01.2006. According to Art. 59 (1) of the Bulgarian Law for protection against discrimination, the Commission is requested to investigate the reported case within 30 days, as if complicated, this term might be prolonged to another 30 days. Yet, there is no formal response from the Commission on any of the cases.
Having in mind the above, I believe the Commission follows the same pattern of misinformation, ineffective functioning and based on their annual report, I strongly doubt this Commission justifies the expectations and the financial resources distributed to its functioning.
The Commission reports total 194 complaints raised by citizens, non-governmental organizations, syndicates and media. 89 proceedings have been raised according to the Bulgarian Law for protection against discrimination, as 35 of the raised complaints have been rejected to proceed by the Commission.
The total number of reported cases of discrimination, raised before the Commission is as follows:
1. ethnicity and race -38;
2. gender, human genome and the right of employment - 11;
3. nationality, citizenship, origin, religion and faith - 17;
4. beliefs, political affiliation, personal and social status - 23;
5. disability, sexual orientation and age - 13;
6. family and economical status - 8
7. ad hoc specific cases - 4;
8. multiple discrimination - 5.
During the reporting period the Commission has enacted total 3 statements for administrative malpractice; following a joint decision of the members 3 instructions with binding force to employers and state officers have been enacted; and 3 recommendations to state institutions.
In 2005 the Commission has spent financial resources for acquisition of long-term assets amounting on 608 665 BGL (311 205, 5 EUR), as follows:
§ 52-01 “Computers and hardware”– 73 366 BGL (37 751, 44 EUR)
§ 52-02 “Acquisition of buildings” – 97 792 BGL (50 000, 26 EUR)
§ 52-03 “Other equipment” – 17 562 BGL (8 979, 31 EUR)
§ 52-04 “Transportation (automobiles)” –396 665 BGL (202 811, 6 EUR)
§ 52-05 “Inventory” – 23 280 BGL (11 902, 87 EUR)
Apparently at first glance, the total number of reported cases and complaints to the Commission (194) does not match to the ones cited in their official report (amounting on 119). We strongly hope that is by involuntary mistake and as such, shall be corrected by the Commission. In interview from 26.04.2006 Kemal Eiup, the Chair of the Commission, says that the number of complaints based on Roma ethnicity is 19.
On 25th of January 2005 the antidiscrimination Commission held a meeting to introduce itself before the non-governmental sector in Bulgaria. The meeting took place on 25.01.2006 in hotel Rodina. The event is reported as meeting with NGOs on the official website of the Commission under section: http://kzd-nondiscrimination.com/npo.htm.
The same event is reported differently in other section – Seminars: http://kzd-nondiscrimination.com/seminars3.htm, where the same meeting is reported as “second training seminar” of non-governmental organizations dealing with discrimination.
BGO Gemini raised three complaints for discrimination based on sexual orientation before the Commission for protection against discrimination. The first complaint was raised on 27.12.2005; the other two complaints were raised on 20.01.2006. According to Art. 59 (1) of the Bulgarian Law for protection against discrimination, the Commission is requested to investigate the reported case within 30 days, as if complicated, this term might be prolonged to another 30 days. Yet, there is no formal response from the Commission on any of the cases.
Having in mind the above, I believe the Commission follows the same pattern of misinformation, ineffective functioning and based on their annual report, I strongly doubt this Commission justifies the expectations and the financial resources distributed to its functioning.
