The Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA)
Non Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Policy
Non Discrimination
1. BFPA in all its history, as member of relevant national and international networks such as IPPF, the National Network for children and the National Platform for International development supports core values, believes in social justice, and understands that a framework of non-discrimination underlies all human rights protection and promotion.
2. The framework of non-discrimination prohibits any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of age; sex; sexual orientation; marital status; race; color; ethnicity; language; religion; political or other opinion; national, geographical or social origin; physical or mental disability; health status, including HIV; and civil, political, social or other status; which has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.
3. The Association fully accepts the basic principles of sexual rights as one of the Basic Human rights and considers as issue of discrimination and gender inequality the unequal access to cultural, economic, political or social rights such as sexual and reproductive health services, comprehensive health abd sexuality education.
4. The Association rejects any form of sexual violence, abuse or exploitation which impair a person’s enjoyment of rights on an equal footing with others.
5. Equality requires every individual to enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms on an equal basis with others. This may require that particular attention be paid to vulnerable, marginalized and under-served groups.
6. BFPA works for better and equal access for all and to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
7. BFPA believes in social justice and challenges all forms of discrimination especially that based on sex, age, social class, disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, religion, race and ethnicity.
8. BFPA works to support young people, both girls and boys to fulfill their potential and become active members of their societies and recognizes the need to understand better their needs, and to address those needs by directing resources through its program work in order to improve their positions in society.
9. Non-discrimination is an important principle that forms the basis of BFPA strategies. The Association takes as the foundation of our practice the UN Convention on Human Rights and IPPF Declaration on Sexual Rights to work to eliminate gender discrimination in societies at all levels.
10. BFPA strives to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment, where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity can contribute fully and have equal opportunities.
Equal opportunities
1. Goal: to support the achievement of equal opportunities of women and men and ensure access to the SRHR services equally.
2. Ensure women equal participation with men in the working processes of the Association, including governing bodies and senior staff
3. Gender equality is a crosscutting issue and as such must be considered as an integral part of BFPA policies, programs and projects. Addressing gender equality as a crosscutting goal requires that women views, interests and needs shape the Association works as much as men, and that the organization supports progress towards more equal relations between women and men with special emphasis on Young People.
4. Achieving gender equality does not mean that women become the same as men and vice versa. Equality means that ones rights or opportunities do not depend on being male or female
5. Support women and girls and vulnerable groups in the realization of their full human rights via:
• providing training and education to make sure everyone knows their rights and responsibilities
• Identifying marginalized groups of the population and promoting access to services
• regularly monitoring organizational systems for barriers
• promoting non discrimination during the working on all levels of the organization (including: implementing projects and its activities, promoting services and etc
• Promoting appropriate standards of conduct at all times
• Empower vulnerable groups and improve their capacity and opportunities
6. Achieving equal opportunities requires the recognition that every policy, program and project affects women and men. Supporting men’s health and engaging and involving participation of men and boys is as essential as engaging women and girls.
7. BFPA believes that every individual should enjoy the equal rights and makes contribution to elimination of any kind of discrimination based on the gender roles and power relations attitude towards girls and women. No distinction should be made for opportunities such as division of labor, education access to health care and sociali benefits. No person should be the victim of violence, abuse or exploitation, as per the concept of non discrimination.
Approved by the Management board and the AGM July 2018