Bulgarian Vice President meets Ombudswoman to sign memorandum of understanding on anti-discrimination
Sofia, Nov. 23 (BNA): Iliana Iotova, Bulgarian Vice President met with Ghada Hameed Habib, Secretary-General of the Ombudswoman, during a visit by Bahrain’s Ombuds delegation to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Commission for Protection Against Discrimination. The meeting addressed various human rights issues.
Vice President Iotova emphasised the importance of prioritising vulnerable groups, such as children and people with disabilities, and underscored the global need to protect human rights amid current challenges.
Habib highlighted the strong cooperation between Bahrain’s Ombuds Office and the Bulgarian Commission, which has been demonstrated through joint initiatives, including the commission’s participation in an international conference held in Bahrain in October 2023. During that visit, the Bulgarian delegation observed Bahrain’s achievements in human rights, such as the Alternative Sentencing Law and the Open Prisons Programme, reflecting His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directive for human rights in the Kingdom.
Habib described the meeting as positive, noting a shared understanding of human rights challenges and Bahrain’s proactive adoption of comprehensive strategies to uphold human rights.
The meeting coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Bahrain’s Ombuds Office and the Bulgarian Commission for Protection against Discrimination.
During the visit, the Bahraini delegation was briefed on the commission’s functions, authority, and regional representative network.
The visit also included meetings with senior Bulgarian officials, where Bahrain’s Ombuds Office shared its key achievements and discussed ways to enhance collaboration on human rights and ombuds functions for the benefit of both nations.
A.S.
