Sofia, December 15 2014
The Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) participated in the final event on Keep me Safe project, coordinated by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and co-financed by European Commission (DJ Justice – Program Daphne III). The meeting took place in Madrid on December 11-12, 2014 and aimed to consolidate the participants from all partnership organizations, associated members of International Planned Parenthood Federation, implementing activities on project. At the end of the sessions conclusions and recommendations connected with young people with learning disabilities were formulated to be presented to European authorities. More than 30 participants representing different organizations working on family planning as well institutions working for the rights of people with disabilities or policy makers took participation at the event. Bulgaria was represented by the project coordinator Ralitsa Zgalevska from BFPA, the chief expert in International Relationships Department of the Ministry of Health Anna Temelkova, the Chair of Future for Children with Disabilities Association and Director of Center of Social Rehabilitation and Integration in Kazanlak Maria Gineva and the Chairman of National Association of Resource Teachers in Bulgaria and Director of Resource Center in Sofia Kaloyan Damyanov.
The countries participated in the project – Bulgaria, Germany, Cyprus, Rumania, Ireland, The Netherlands, Latvia, Macedonia, Spain and UK – made a review of the main achievements on the project and together were looking for ways to continue the work for the benefit of young people with learning disabilities after the financing ends. As a result of the partnership created in the frame of the project in the end of the two-day discussions a document with recommendations to European legislation were approved, including:
- developing and implementing policies and legislation which recognize the need of strengthening and support the autonomy of the young people with educational difficulties;
- revising the national legislation and policies according to international agreements concerning people with disabilities;
- collecting data and financing investigations on abuse against people with special needs and the effectiveness of the programmes for prevention of abuse;
- guaranteeing the access for people with special educational needs to information, education and services connected with the reproductive health in easy language, as well the obligatory including to the documentation of the organizations the protocol for procedures in cases of abuse;
- adequate information and support for parents and relatives of people with disabilities concerning education and prevention of the abuse;
- monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of laws, policies and programmes on prevention of sexual violation and abuse of young people with learning disabilities;
- creating the mechanism for effective cooperation and coordination between different interested parties.
Gallery / pictures from the event: https://bfpagallery.wordpress.com/events/final-event-on-keep-me-safe-madrid/
KEEP ME SAFE is a two year (2013–2015) European initiative, coordinated by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Contributes to identify gaps and for preparation of an adequate assessment of the need for improvements in the work of special schools professionals working with YPWLD. includes interactive training activities for specialists on different levels and structures in the country, working with YPLD and parents of such young people. In the frame of the project BFPA trained more than 282 specialists in Bulgaria working with young people with disabilities, as well parents of such young people.
DJ Justice DAPHNE 3 Program / DAPHNE – JUST/2012/DAP/AG/3092 “Keep me Safe”
More information about the project: http://www.safesex.bg/en/ongoing-projects/keep-me-safe
