A/HRC/44/52/Add.1 reports that the budget for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is allocated for only six months (from April to October) and that many NGOs deem the budget allocated insufficient. 35. Other relevant national programmes are the national Roma integration strategy (2012–2020) and the national programme on prevention and counteracting human trafficking and the protection of its victims.13 36. In partnership with the Social Assistance Agency, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is in charge of providing funding for and supervising service providers (NGOs or municipalities) of crisis centres, consultation services, legal aid and psychological support for victims of domestic violence and trafficking. The management of these services is assigned to the mayors of the respective municipalities. The municipalities are in charge of developing social services at the local level. Referral to the services provided by the Social Assistance Agency is done through helplines or law enforcement officials under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry is also responsible for the implementation of the Equality between Men and Women Act and the 2016–2020 strategy on gender equality. 37. In Bulgaria, there are two independent human rights institutions: the Ombudsperson and the Commission for Protection against Discrimination. The Ombudsperson, as an independent state organ established in 2005, has the obligation to protect the rights of citizens. It is regulated by the Ombudsperson Act, according to which it is mandated to consider complaints against actions and omissions by government bodies and the private sector concerning human rights. In March 2019, the Ombudsperson was granted “A” status by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions. The Ombudsperson also acts as the national preventive mechanism on torture and meets regularly with NGOs and citizens. 38. The 2003 Protection against Discrimination Act established the Commission for Protection against Discrimination. The proceedings before the Commission are free of charge and everyone receives free counselling and assistance when submitting complaints. The Commission is also competent to make decisions on gender-based discrimination complaints where gender-based discrimination defines behavioural patterns that could escalate to sexual harassment, which constitutes a form of discrimination under the Act. Despite the progress made by the Commission on discrimination in the field of employment, the Special Rapporteur regrets that all cases related to discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons have been rejected owing to lack of sufficient grounds, according to civil society organizations. 39. Bulgaria also has a National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues, established in 1997 by the Council of Ministers and headed by the Deputy Prime Minister. Its mandate is to coordinate State programmes and policies related to ethnic minorities and monitor the implementation of integration policies, in consultation with government bodies, civil society and other relevant stakeholders. NGOs representing ethnic minorities, including Roma, are members of the Council. Despite the adoption of the Roma integration strategy (2012–2020), the Special Rapporteur was informed that the Council had not made tangible progress and she believes that there is a need for more effective measures to promote the integration of Roma women and girls, including access to justice, prevention of domestic violence, access to adequate sexual and reproductive health care and education (E/C.12/BGR/CO/6, paras. 12–13). 40. The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, established in 2004 by the Combating of Trafficking in Human Beings Act and under the Council of Ministers, coordinates State institutions and organizations in the implementation of the national policy and strategy in this field. Through its secretariat, the Commission acts as 13 10 According to the Government, the programme is the operational implementation of the national strategy for combating trafficking in human beings (2017–2021). It also incorporates all the actions undertaken under the national mechanism for referral and support of victims of trafficking of human beings.