/ world today news/ Ombudsman Maya Manolova presented today the institution’s Annual Report for 2016 in two parliamentary committees – on children, youth and sports and on religions and human rights.
Deputies unanimously adopted the document.
Manolova reported to the people’s representatives that in the past year 27,073 citizens sought the help of the institution. 10,640 people filed complaints and reports, and for the same period of 2015, they were 6,202.
The largest number of violated consumer rights is 3138, with 886 complaints against heating companies in the country, 531 against mobile operators, 503 electrical services, 422 waterworks, 322 banks, 128 arbitrations.
In 2016, the ombudsman’s legislative initiatives numbered 11, including changes in the Code of Civil Procedure, in the Value Added Tax Act – VAT exemption for donated food, in the Social Security Code, etc.
The removal of consumer disputes from the scope of arbitration with the changes made by the ombudsman in the Code of Civil Procedure was reported by Maya Manolova as the most significant success of the institution in the year
The 6-fold reduction in legal fees, which has become a reality again since the ombudsman’s legislative changes, is another success cited by the public protector.
The ombudsman also listed several campaigns aimed at supporting socially weak and vulnerable groups in society – “Easter for everyone” – “Give a holiday to grandparents”, in which BGN 1 million was collected in three weeks in 2016, from which 650 thousand cash and food products for 360 thousand BGN. The money was turned into food vouchers, with which 32,500 pensioners shopped at 5,000 outlets across the country.
“Easter – Every day” and “Don’t waste – donate” are the initiatives that the ombudsman singled out against food waste.
Manolova paid special attention to the campaign for the protection of children’s rights “In our hands”, aimed at children placed in institutions, children at risk and in conflict with the law, unaccompanied refugee and migrant children, “lonely children” whose parents are abroad and are left in the care of other people.
In 2016, complaints about children increased three times compared to 2015, and violations were found in 60% of them. The largest number of reports refer to the rights of children in a family environment and the actions of the protection authorities – 75 nos. There is a fourfold increase in complaints for children with disabilities, from 16 in 2015 to 58 in 2016. 15 complaints were filed in the institution for cases of violence and unacceptable methods of education in nurseries and kindergartens.
See all statistics here:
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