Developing tools for civic participation in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of anti-discrimination policies in Bulgaria

This project proposal has been developed with the main idea to lay the foundations for providing opportunities for active citizenship in the work of state bodies and institutions in the field of anti-discrimination policies. The focus of the project is to promote civic participation in the process of improving the regulatory environment in criminal law in the direction of anti-discrimination of certain social groups and in particular LGBT society. The logic of the project tracks the creation of a pilot toolkit for active citizenship through the organization and creation of a citizens' initiative - an online petition, incl. implementing a methodology for assessing the follow-up of policies. The individual activities are in causal relationship between them, developed in a way that maximizes the problem and defines the sustainable elements of the developed tool. It is envisaged that the following activities will be carried out within the scope of the project:      ⁕ Development of methodology for evaluation of anti-discrimination policies;      ⁕ Preparation of legal analysis in 4 directions (according to established deficiency in the penal system in Bulgaria);      ⁕ Drawing up a strategy for implementation of the defined proposals for regulatory changes;      ⁕ Develop an online form for petitions on defined recommendations;      ⁕ Exchange of experience and good practices with other NGOs;      ⁕ Awareness campaign  The creation of a tool for active citizenship should be seen as a prerequisite for transforming Bulgarian society into a modern and developing society, in line with the European community. By promoting civic participation in governance, society can be a kind of corrective of political priorities and goals and be a tool for public control over state policy.

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