Overview    

   The development and coordination of the implementation of the state policy in the relevant fields is carried out by the Demographic Policy, Social Investments and Equal Opportunities Market Directorate through the Equal Opportunities Department (EOD) within it.

   The EOD is Secretariat of the National Council on Equality between Women and Men. The Council has consultative functions. Through it is achieved the coordination and collaboration between the governmental bodies and the non-governmental sector regarding gender equality issues. It also develops the state policy on gender equality and works for the promotion of gender equality as a part of the State policy.

   The activities of the National Council on Equality between Women and Men are set out in its annual Action Plans , which focus on updating the Ministries' priorities, according to the main priorities of the Government.

   Other tasks are related to raising the public awareness on gender issues, training in the field of protection of human rights and equal opportunities for women and men and the methods for achievement of gender equality for different target groups including human resource managers and experts and civil servants from the central and local administrations, responsible for implementation of gender equality policy. Special emphasis is put on the implementation of gender mainstreaming in policy making in all sectors.

   The state policy should guarantee prevention and elimination of gender-based discrimination, equal access to the labour market and economic activities, appropriate measures for reconciliation of work and family life. Education and health care, especially reproductive health, are areas of special concern as well as combating domestic violence and trafficking in human beings.

   It is considered that all to ensure the efficiency of all measures and actions, it is necessary that regular impact assessment, monitoring and control of the implementation of gender equality policies should be done. For that purpose should be identified gender equality indicators relevant to the indicators of EUROSTAT, which will be incorporated in a gender disaggregated data base.