Public Discussions Drive Change in Bulgaria’s Civil Registration Law

Lesichovo, Bulgaria: 2 August 2024 / Sunny Beach, Bulgaria: 9-11 September 2024

The IGA Found carried out the final public discussions to raise awareness about changes to the Law on Civil Registration of Bulgaria in August and September as part of their project in the framework of MARIO. On August 2, the sixth discussion was held at the Center for Public Support in the village of Lesichovo, which also serves as a municipal center. Representatives of marginalized communities and local government institutions were present, including teams from four social services in Lesichovo.

Andrey Momchilov, one of the trained advocates of the project, introduced the participants to the main issues surrounding access to personal documents for Bulgarian citizens and outlined the necessary actions to address these challenges. He highlighted the relevant laws about the discussion and emphasized the necessary changes, which were the primary focus of the session.

Participants had many questions and expressed their opinions on the planned changes. The host provided comprehensive answers and encouraged active participation during the final discussion. Throughout the previous and current forums, there was significant interest in the role of institutions in implementing the proposed changes.

The last two discussions took place on September 9 and 11 in Sunny Beach. The first discussion included representatives from the “Labour Bureau” and “Social Assistance” Directorates, the Regional Office for the Execution of Sentences, the Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Pazardzhik, and municipal administrations from Lom, Lesichovo, and Pazardzhik. With participants well-prepared for the event, the focus shifted to discussion, where a variety of opinions and ideas were shared, primarily centered on how to implement changes that would benefit stakeholders.

The discussion on September 11 brought together institutions involved in the topic, including representatives from the District Prosecutor’s Office, the Administrative Court, the Regional Directorate of Social Assistance in Pazardzhik, and local social centers such as the Crisis Center in Peshtera. Active debates took place, with innovative ideas proposed for implementing changes to best support the less educated members of marginalized groups.