In Bulgaria, 2019 was a year of stagnation, and in some respects a regression in human rights. This is the main finding of the annual human rights report published by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee on 29 June 2019.

Throughout 2019 Bulgaria was ruled by the coalition government of the pro-European center-right political party, Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), and United Patriots, a right-wing coalition formed after the elections in March 2017. In different periods in the past, these parties incited hatred, discrimination and / or violence against Roma, Muslims, migrants and the LGBTI community. 

When it comes to refugee integration, the report highlights that in 2019 “no integration measures or activities were available to recognised refugees or foreigners granted humanitarian status. Thus, the situation of zero integration of refugees in Bulgaria continues for the sixth consecutive year”.

The 2019 report covered 15 human rights focus areas:

• Political development in Bulgaria in 2019;
• Cooperation with international and local human rights organisations;
• Right to life, protection from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment;
• Independence of the judiciary and a fair trial;
• Right to respect for private and family life, housing and correspondence;
• Freedom of conscience and religion;
• Freedom of expression;
• Freedom of association and peaceful assembly;
• Conditions in places of detention;
• Protection against discrimination;
• Right to asylum and international protection;
• Rights of people with psychological disorders;
• Women's rights;
• Rights of children in institutions;
• Rights of LGBTI people.

Access the report online here, or find it attached below.

Read the annual human rights report for 2020 here.