2020 was a year of serious human rights challenges in Bulgaria: the presence of ultra-nationalist formations in the government has had a negative impact on the situation of minorities and on human rights across the country. This publication, released on on 11 May 2021, presents the findings of annual human rights research carried out by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee.

The chapter on asylum and international protection highlights that, just like in 2019, “in 2020, 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 seventh consecutive year.”

The 2020 report covers 17 human rights areas:

• Political development in Bulgaria in 2020;
• Cooperation with international and local human rights organisations;
• Right to life, protection from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment;
• Respect for private and family life;
• 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;
• Right to health;
• Women's rights;
• Rights of people with psychological disorders;
• Rights of children in institutions;
• Rights of LGBTI people.

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

Read the annual human rights report for 2019 here.