Neziha Huteva is 39 years old, a veterinarian by profession and a public figure by vocation. Born and raised in the multi-ethnic village of Chepintsi, Smolyan, she has always felt that she has to fight – for herself, for her family, for her community. A mother of two, she constantly balances her professional and personal responsibilities, as thousands of women in Bulgaria do. But unlike many others, she chooses to be an agent of change.
She is no stranger to discrimination – even at university she faced it on religious grounds, and early in her career she had to prove she could be a good professional despite being a woman. But she doesn’t give up and instead of resigning herself to it, turns the difficulties into motivation.
“I dream of a world where women and men have equal rights. A world without violence. I believe that change starts with ourselves,” says Neziha.
Inequality that still exists
The inequality that still exists according to Neziha, although the issue of gender equality is increasingly discussed, the problems of women in Bulgaria remain.
Pay is often lower for one and the same position, women find it harder to reach leadership positions, and domestic violence remains a painful reality.
“True equality means that women should be accepted everywhere on an equal footing with men, addressed in feminine terms, paid the same for the same job – and a number of other things that are still not guaranteed today,” emphasises Neziha.
In Smolyan region, where she works, the situation is even more difficult. The lack of an active civil society, limited opportunities for women in business and politics, insufficient knowledge of their rights – all this is part of the problem. Women struggle not only with prejudices, but also with real institutional barriers.
Women’s rights guide
Realizing that change does not come alone, Neziha found sympathizers in the face of the Women’s Club “Rodopchanka”, Smolyan, who are implementing the initiative “Women’s rights guide”, part of the project “Rights and Values”. The aim of the initiative is clear – more awareness, more involvement and more opportunities for women in the region.
Recognizing the importance of the cause, Neziha became one of 20 trained women who received specialized training so they could then pass on knowledge and inform other women about their rights.
In addition to training, the initiative includes advocacy campaigns, networking for support and engaging local authorities and businesses in the fight for equal rights.
Women’s Network
One of the most significant victories of the initiative is the creation of an online dialogue network that is rapidly becoming a space for sharing, support and awareness. With its 464 members and 758 followers, the platform now connects women from different localities in Smolyan region, enabling them to discuss issues, exchange ideas and learn more about their rights.
At the heart of this network are young girl activists from six small settlements who are now informal leaders of their communities. Their confidence and commitment are not accidental – they have each been through trainings led by 20 other women, one of whom is Neziha.
“Women don’t just need to participate in public life – they need to be leaders,” says Nesiha. “Because when a woman takes on something, she sees it through.”
These words find expression in another important achievement of the initiative – the realization of a 14-year-old idea.
One woman for all women
In the year 2010 the Municipal Council of the town of Smolyan decided to place a small monument of the first woman mayor of the town – Dora Vassileva. Although she has left a significant trace in history, the funds to implement the idea have never been collected.
The team of the Women’s Club “Rodopchanka” did not agree with this. They organized an advocacy campaign to raise funds, mobilized citizens, wrote letters to potential donors, and held personal meetings. They published over 20 articles in the media calling for support.
And the result came along.
Thanks to the joint efforts 9 000 BGN were raised. On 1 November 2024, after many years of waiting, the memorial sign with a fountain in honour of Dora Vassileva was officially inaugurated.
“This is not just a monument,” says Diana Kalaidjieva from the Rodopchanka Women’s Club. “It’s a symbol of recognition of women leaders and proof that together we can change the environment around us.”
In addition to this campaign, the initiative also succeeded in engaging local authorities with real action. In the municipality of Nedelino, after discussions with the project team, the job description of one of the experts included responsibility for taking measures to combat domestic violence.
Meetings with business representatives also yielded results – 6 companies from the Smolyan region with predominantly female staff accepted the zero tolerance policy on violence and saw in it not only moral but also practical sense for their companies.
The challenges as part of the solution
Of course, success does not come without difficulties. The many snap elections during this period slow down the work – rooms intended for training are occupied, and participants withdraw due to commitments with the electoral process.
But when a cause is truly important, there are no insurmountable obstacles. The team mobilizes forces, finds alternative ways to conduct the campaigns and in the end – the initiative ends with impressive results.
The dream that drives everything
“I dream of a united and supportive civil society,” says Neziha. “For a world where women don’t have to prove they deserve equal rights – because they just have them.”
Today, she doesn’t just dream – she acts. And with her, hundreds of women in the Rhodope mountains are beginning to believe that change is possible. That when their voices unite, they can be heard.
And this is just the beginning.