For the men who command Bulgaria’s National Guard, women are definitely the weaker sex – and thus are barred from active duty in its ranks. But now a court action against the ban is being launched.
 
The two women, neither of whom is in the military, are taking their case to Bulgaria’s Supreme Administrative Court, with the support of human rights group the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC).
 
If they do not get satisfaction from this court, they will go on to the European Court of Justice.
 
The National Guard’s most visible duties are their daily parade duties outside the President’s office and they participate in all major parades on national holidays.
 
Margarita Ilieva, a lawyer with the BHC, told Bulgarian National Television that it was obvious that women could serve in the National Guard’s honour parades as well as men.
 
The message that was being given was that women were "not worthy to represent the Bulgarian army and state".

"This is a direct expression of a sexist stereotype that they are less significant, less strong, more unappreciated," Ilieva said.

The National Guard said that its regulations barring women had been co-ordinated with and approved by the Health Ministry.

National Guard office commanding Colonel Boyan Stavrev said: "I must tell you that the third year after guardsmen are appointed, they get varicose veins, backache, curvature of the spine. Imagine a woman who has to bear such a load".

Stavrev said that women in the National Guard constituted one per cent of the complement.
 
They worked as security guards, in the armory and playing in the brass band.
 
He invited the two complainants to appear at the selection parade on July 21, after which, he said, they would understand why it was undesirable for women to serve on active duty in the Guard.