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BULGARIA
Narodno sabranie
Parliamentary bodies dealing with gender equality :
Human Rights and Citizens' Complaints Committee

Type of parliamentary body Multifunctional
Nature Permanent
Related to chambers Narodno sabranie
Date of creation The Committee was set up at the beginning of the 42nd National Assembly, following parliamentary elections in May 2013.
Last renewal date N/A
Mandate The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Citizens' Complaints which is one of 23 standing committees in the National Assembly, is able to consider bills, draft resolutions, and declarations and statements related to the status of women and gender equality, and to prepare reports and make recommendations. The Committee expresses opinions on the expected budgetary consequences of the enactment of an act or resolution. The Committee may assess the implementation and effectiveness of National Assembly legislation that focuses on the status of women and gender equality. Government authorities, government and municipal administration officials and members of the public are obliged to make available on request any information and documents required by the Committee for its work on these matters. The Chairperson of the Committee, following a motion supported by one third of Committee members, is obliged to request forthwith that government authorities and government and municipal administration officials attend Committee meetings. The persons so invited are obliged to appear before the Committee and to present the requested information. In addition, they are required to answer any questions within seven days of the invitation being sent or at the first regular meeting if it is after the end of the said seven days.
Membership The members of the Committee on Human Rights and Citizens' Complaints are elected from among National Assembly members for a parliamentary term (four years). The composition of the Committee is based on the principle of proportional representation of parliamentary groups. There are 19 members of the 42nd National Assembly Committee. Composition by sex: 15 men (79%), 4 women (21%)
Working methods The Standing Committee's meetings are regular and extraordinary. Committee meetings are open and members of the public may attend Committee meetings. National Assembly admission arrangements apply. The Committee decides on the agenda and the frequency and duration of its meetings. The Committee is convened by its Chairperson or on the request of not less than one third of its members, or by the Chairperson of the National Assembly. Any member of the Committee leadership may invite individual natural persons or representatives of legal persons concerned with the issues considered by the Committee to attend a meeting. The Committee may decide that particular meetings should be closed. Members of the National Assembly may attend Committee meetings in a non-voting capacity. The sponsor of a bill or any other matter under consideration by the Committee is entitled to a hearing, in person or by proxy, at relevant Committee meetings. The Committee Chairperson posts notices concerning the agenda and the time and venue of meetings at special points within the National Assembly or delivers them in person to Committee members concerned (to be acknowledged by signature). The agenda is announced not less than one day before the meeting. In the case of an extraordinary meeting, the agenda is publicized at the same time as the date of such a meeting. Committee meetings are in order if more than one half of the membership is present. If the above quorum is not in position within 15 minutes of the time set for the meeting, the meeting may proceed with the members in attendance, provided that not less than one third of the membership is there. Committee decisions are based on a majority vote by the members present. The Committee's reports to the National Assembly are delivered by the Chairperson or by a rapporteur appointed by the Committee. Reports set out the decisions adopted by the Committee, the different views on a matter and the level of support. Committee's reports from open meetings are made public under the standing procedures. They are also posted on the National Assembly website. Summary minutes are drawn up at Committee meetings, setting out all the decisions made. The Chairperson and the stenographer sign them. The records of the closed meetings are subject to a special procedure pertaining to safe keeping, accounting and access, consistent with the requirements of the Classified Information Protection Act.
Relations with other parliamentary bodies Standing committees may hold joint meetings to discuss common issues. A mutually designated chairperson presides over such meetings. In joint meetings, each committee makes a separate decision on the matter at hand. In the case of dissent, each submits a separate report to the National Assembly.
Relations with external bodies Government authorities, government and municipal administration officials and members of the public are obliged to make available on request any information and documents required by the Committee for its work on these matters. The Chairperson of the Committee, following a motion supported by one third of Committee members, is obliged to request forthwith that government authorities and government and municipal administration officials attend Committee meetings. The persons so invited are obliged to appear before the Committee and to present the requested information. In addition, they are required to answer any questions within seven days of the invitation being sent or at the first regular meeting if it is after the end of the said seven days.
Subjects dealt with - Rights of minorities, and integration of the Roma population; - Meeting with the Commission for protection against discrimination; - Meeting with a delegation of the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities of the European Parliament. Discussion about creating a specific body to deal with women's rights and equal opportunities for women within the Committee on Human Rights and Citizens' Complaints.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Main address Human Rights and Citizen's Complaints Committee
National Assembly
1, Al. Batenberg Sq.
1169 Sofia
Bulgaria
Phone + 359 2 939 30 05; 986 27 72
Fax + 359 2 987 88 59
E-mail humanrights@parliament.bg
Website http://www.parliament.bg/en/parliamentarycommittees/members/2082
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
Name Mr. Tuncher Kardzhakiev
Notes Chairperson
Address (if different from above)
Phone
Fax
E-mail Kardjaliev@parliament.bg
Website
Name Mr. Georgi Chavdarov Anastasov
Notes Deputy Chairperson
Address (if different from above)
Phone
Fax
E-mail Georgi.Anastasov@parliament.bg
Website
Name Mr. Georgi Simeonov Goranov
Notes Deputy Chairperson
Address (if different from above)
Phone
Fax
E-mail georgi.goranov@parliament.bg
Website
Name Mr. Radi Nikolov Stoyanov
Notes Deputy Chairperson
Address (if different from above)
Phone
Fax
E-mail radi.stoyanov@parliament.bg
Website
SECRETARY

Information on this page was last updated on 18 November 2013
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