Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation - Projects page

Pilot initiative: Gender approach integration

Pilot initiative: Gender approach integration in encouraging and empowering young people to participate and lobby for their interests in decision making process on local and national level, as well as in the accession of Bulgaria to European and NATO structures.

Project supported by the European Youth Foundation, Council of Europe.

Main goals:

• Creation and development of a national network of youth organizations and groups in view of identifying and placing their major problems on the agenda of the society;
• Increase the level of knowledge and sensitivity to gender equality issues;
• Presentation of major mechanisms of human rights’ protection in the European Union;
• Increase the level of knowledge of young people on the current accession process of Bulgaria to European and NATO structures;
• Encouraging young people to participate actively in public life, as well as in decision making processes on national and local (municipal) level;
• Development of innovative initiatives and alternative actions for dialogue with people and institutions having different opinions on the problems under review.

Main results:

• Creation of national youth network: Working meetings were organized in Gabrovo, Varna, Plovdiv and Sofia. The aim of the working meetings was to identify crucial problems in the respective region and to develop action strategies and recommendations for youth organizations – lobbying mechanisms, media campaigns for popularization of young people’s opinions and other initiatives;

• Training on lobbying techniques and strategy and on leadership skills for representatives of the youth network: Ms. Mary McPhail - the secretary of the European Women’s Lobby was invited to conduct the training course, which took place in Bankia.

20 December 2001