The Life of Minorities in Bulgaria

MEP Filiz Hyusmenova, champion of the Alliance for Maternal Health Equality and at the forefront of the Declaration on universal access to maternal healthcare, organized and hosted a photographic exhibition at the European Parliament on the lives of minorities in Bulgaria.

The Alliance were present at the opening of the exhibition where European Commissioner Vera Jurova gave a welcome speech highlighting the need for a ‘spirit of tolerance,’ and the recognition of minorities’ and minority women’s rights.

Central to MEP Filiz Hyusmenova’s address was the importance of embracing the beautiful, colorful and diverse world we live in. The situation in Europe is worrying. With an increase in terrorism there is often an increase in hatred and xenophobia. The images in the exhibition celebrate our sensitivity to diversity and in parallel the importance of tolerance and togetherness.

The exhibition is made up of the works of photographer Ognyan Panov showing pictures from the daily lives of women from different minorities including Roma, Turkish and Armenian minorities. The exhibition is dedicated to the contributions of Abraham H. Foxman Honorary Chariman of the Anti-Defamation League who dedicated his life to fighting for a world without hate.