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| Training of trainers seminar: The Institution of Local Public Mediator in Bulgaria
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 During the first part of the discussion certain aspects of the organization and activities of the institution on both national and local level were deliberated. Financing as a significant guarantee for the institution’s independence, possible procedures for selection and election of the best candidate, and the important role the institution can play as an efficient anti-corruption mechanism were debated. Among the topics of the discussion were some drawbacks of the legal framework of the institution which could influence adversely its future work, e.g.: the provision that only natural persons may address the ombudsman, the lack of provisions on cooperation and financial relations between the national ombudsman and the local public mediators, etc. In addition, legislative amendments that would enhance the efficiency of the institution were considered.
The second part of the seminar was devoted to the presentation and discussion of the regional initiatives for human rights protection.
Ms. Silvana Mileva, psychologist at Resource Center Open Door – Veliko Turnovo familiarized the participants with the Peer Support initiative and the hotline where children can be counseled about their problems and receive information on their rights. Voluntary teams, comprising psychologists, social workers and 11-12 grade high school students, have been formed. Team members have been especially trained in indirect communication skills.
She also presented the activities of the Civil Consultative Center at Veliko Turnovo municipality. It includes experts in different fields who communicate directly with the administration. A social worker and a psychologist have been working for four years on issues connected with children and domestic violence; a gender issues expert at Veliko Turnovo municipality has been employed; a shelter for women who have suffered domestic violence has been established in Pleven. Ms. Mileva offered cooperation and support regarding children’s issues to the future Veliko Turnovo public mediator.
In 2002, a Legal Clinic for out-of-court dispute resolution was established with the assistance of Veliko Turnovo University School of Law lecturers and Resource Center Open Door. It works in the fields of administrative, civil, criminal and family law. Advanced law students, lecturers from the university and lawyers work voluntarily in the clinic four days a week. They are assisted by three attorneys-at-law. The case–files will be included in an online reference book accessible at the website of the Law Clinic.
Ms. Elka Krusteva, Program Director of the Human Rights Step by Step Association – Varna presented the activities of the association in the out-of-court dispute resolution and the initiative for establishing specialized ombudsman-type institutions on minority issues at the municipality. Social councils on these problems are established and function in the municipalities of Avren, Aksakovo, Beloslav and Dolni Chiflik in Varna District. Ms. Krusteva launched the idea of creating specialized teams on children’s, minority and gender issues at the office of the future national ombudsman.
The member of the Managing Board of the Association of Municipalities Public Relations Experts Mr. Ivan Bundarov from Gorna Oriahovitsa municipality proposed that training course devoted to the ombudsman institution should be organized jointly by CSD and the Association. The training will be aimed at aiding the future ombudsmen’s election and the successful kick-off of local public mediator offices.
The common opinion of the seminar participants was that the presented models for human rights protection and control on the activities of different public authorities would help significantly the institution of local public mediator and its activities.
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