BULGARIA will take part in the European Year of Disabled People, which is an initiative of the European Commission. Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Lidia Shuleva proposed that Bulgaria be included in the initiative. Labour and Social Policy Deputy Minister Christina Hristova recently returned from the opening ceremony of The Year Of People With Disabilities in Athens.
In Bulgaria the official opening will be on February 26 when a big concert will be held in Sofia. A famous Bulgarian opera singer with disabilities will perform and all the member countries will be included. The aim is to focus on the rights of disabled people and produce opportunities for their social integration.
At the moment in Bulgaria more than 24 cases have been instituted by disabled people against the State, the legal advisor of the Centre for Independent Living, Kamen Kostakiev, told BTA. "Very often disabled people give up their cases or are afraid of suing the municipality fearing to lose the social welfare benefits they depend only on," Kostakiev said.
Most of the cases have been filed in Sofia and Plovdiv. Only one disability case was won at first instance - against the municipality of Lukovit for lack of access for disabled people to public buildings. Now the municipality is appealing the case.
The Centre for Independent Living and another 50 organisations for people with disabilities from across the country marked the beginning of the European Year of People with Disabilities at a conference Sunday.
The organisations of the independent life network attending the conference adopted a common position on the policy of the state towards disabled people. The position welcomes the decision of the Council of Europe to declare 2003 the European Year for People with Disabilities. It also supports the intention of the Bulgarian Government to adopt a National Strategy for Equality and a new law guaranteeing equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
"We insist that these documents, affecting more than 800 000 Bulgarians, guarantee their human rights providing conditions for equality, dignified life and choice," the statement from the conference reads. It insists that the state focuses on accessible environment, integrated education of children with disabilities and services for independent life and integration.
In Bulgaria the official opening will be on February 26 when a big concert will be held in Sofia. A famous Bulgarian opera singer with disabilities will perform and all the member countries will be included. The aim is to focus on the rights of disabled people and produce opportunities for their social integration.
At the moment in Bulgaria more than 24 cases have been instituted by disabled people against the State, the legal advisor of the Centre for Independent Living, Kamen Kostakiev, told BTA. "Very often disabled people give up their cases or are afraid of suing the municipality fearing to lose the social welfare benefits they depend only on," Kostakiev said.
Most of the cases have been filed in Sofia and Plovdiv. Only one disability case was won at first instance - against the municipality of Lukovit for lack of access for disabled people to public buildings. Now the municipality is appealing the case.
The Centre for Independent Living and another 50 organisations for people with disabilities from across the country marked the beginning of the European Year of People with Disabilities at a conference Sunday.
The organisations of the independent life network attending the conference adopted a common position on the policy of the state towards disabled people. The position welcomes the decision of the Council of Europe to declare 2003 the European Year for People with Disabilities. It also supports the intention of the Bulgarian Government to adopt a National Strategy for Equality and a new law guaranteeing equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
"We insist that these documents, affecting more than 800 000 Bulgarians, guarantee their human rights providing conditions for equality, dignified life and choice," the statement from the conference reads. It insists that the state focuses on accessible environment, integrated education of children with disabilities and services for independent life and integration.
