With the support of OSI’s Roma Health Project, two Bulgarian Roma NGOs, Center Amalipe in Veliko Turnovo and World Without Borders Association in Stara Zagora, launched an advocacy campaign in 2008 to involve Roma civil society in health care systems.

The campaign is focused on the Bulgarian Human Resources Development Operational Program 2007–2013, which contains a directive (Priority Axis 5.3: Employability) with targeted actions for improving the health of vulnerable groups. These actions include health information campaigns and a national campaign for early diagnostics of cancer, especially for Roma communities.

Center Amalipe and World Without Borders Association are working with the ministries of labor and health and the social assistance agency to include Roma civil society as an equal partner in all activities directed to Roma. The groups are also seeking the inclusion of Romani women’s health issues in the program objectives. In March, the ministry of labor announced that it would respect the broad European principle of partnership, civil participation, and empowerment in the implementation of the Bulgarian program.

As a result of the two Roma NGOs’ advocacy efforts, the operation  currently sets as priorities joint activities of state institutions and nongovernmental organizations directed to Roma. A detailed description of the operation will be developed to guarantee effective partnership with community-based NGOs, especially where activities are directed to the Roma population.