Inclusion Daily Express -- Bulgarian Protesters Get Promises From Government

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Bulgarian Protesters Get Promises From Government
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
November 10, 2008

SOFIA, BULGARIA--About 300 Bulgarians, many in wheelchairs, gathered Monday outside the Council of Ministers' building in Bulgaria's capital city to protest what they claim is the government's disregard for its 850,000 citizens with disabilities.

The demonstration was organized by disability groups, including the Union of Persons with Disabilities, the Association of Parents to Children with Epilepsy, and the National Council for Integration of Disabled Persons.

The protesters presented a list of demands for government ministers, including a commitment to sign onto the Protocol of the United Nations' International Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities; an annual increase in government benefits; increased funding for health care treatment; improved access to public places; and the establishment of a separate government ministry for people with disabilities.

"The newly established fund for accessible architecture environment for the disabled people should be managed by representatives of the disabled people's organizations all across the country," the protesters demanded.

The activists threatened that, if the government fails to start the changes they called for within the next month, they would file a complaint with the European Commission and European Parliament.

According to the Sofia Echo, Krassmir Kotzev, Chairman of the Union of Persons with Disabilities, was able to meet with the head of the office for Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev. Kotzev later said government officials promised to consider the issues and start the first steps toward meeting at least some of the demands.

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