The Cooperation between BALGÖÇ and AGORA Unlocks the Treasures

Tuesday, 05 April 2016

The activities of the project "Unlock the Treasures" implemented in partnership between Platform AGORA, Sofia, Bulgaria and the Balkan Immigrants Culture and Solidarity Association - BALGOC located in Bursa, Turkey continue. At that stage of the European project the cooperation between both organizations goes on in Sofia with meetings at Bulgarian institutions, responsible for protection of citizens against discrimination.

At the meeting with representatives of the Commission for Protection from Discrimination (CPD), that is an independent state institution, the partners learnt more about the Commission's activities. The Commission's Chairperson, Mrs. Ana Djumalieva pointed out that there are regional representatives around the country, the Commission works for preventing discrimination actions and practices and reports to the National Assembly. The Bulgarian CPD is one of the few institutions of that kind in EU member states and its members are appointed by the President of the Republic and the National Assembly on a quota basis.

The partnering associations had a meeting with Mrs. Maya Manolova, Ombudsman of Bulgaria. At the meeting, Mrs. Emilia Lissichkova, Chairperson of Platform AGORA presented the project goals and specific outcomes. The Chairman of BALGÖÇ, Mr. Yüksel Özkan on the other hand spoke about the cooperation within the project "Unlock the Treasures" stating that the association has always aimed at combating discrimination and respecting the human rights. Mrs. Maya Manolova presented the Ombudsman's activities and mentioned that many people who were subject of discrimination address the institution and the average daily number of people searching for assistance is 150. The Ombudsman emphasized that her responsibility is to protect the people and added that the institution prepares an annual discrimination report. She emphasized on the fact that about half of the nation's population lives on the brink of poverty and the pensioners are mostly affected. Mrs. Manolova mentioned that she has started a charitable initiative for assisting the people in need. Mr. Yüksel Özkan pointed out that the immigrants association has supported a number of charity initiatives for assistance of Bulgarians and would like in coordination with AGORA as a partner to contribute to the Ombudsman's campaign.

As part of the study visit program, the participants attended various presentations and visited the Ethnographic Museum in Sofia. The work group of Balkan Immigrants Culture and Solidarity Association (BALGÖÇ) included 20 people among them academicians such as Professor Kamuran Recber, teaching EU legislation to "International Relations" students at the University of Uludag as well as Kader Özlem PhD, teaching at the Balkan Institute at Thracian University. AGORA Platform representatives were hosting the study visit: Bojidara Ilieva and Kremena Hristova and the project experts: Mila Maeva, Esen Fikri and Hari Alexiev.

The Chairpersons of both associations announced that within the project that has been in implementation process about a year, three more events are going to happen - "conversation", round table discussion and a closing conference to be held at the end of May in Bursa. The conference will wrap up the project activities, officials will be invited to participate and photo exhibition will be launched.

The project "Unlock the Treasures" is funded by the Civil Society Dialogue Between EU And Turkey -III Political Criteria Grant Scheme, Lot 2: Anti-Discrimination. The programme aims to meet civic society organizations from Turkey and the European Union fostering the dialogue between them on common topics, exchange of knowledge and experience and establishment of sustainable relations.

This publication is produced with the financial support of the EU and Republic of Turkey. Association "Platform AGORA" is responsible for the content of this document and can in no way be interpreted as the opinion of the EU and/or the Republic of Turkey.