Human rights in Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Although Bulgaria joined the European Union
in 2007, its compliance with human rights norms is far from perfect. Although the media have a record of unbiased reporting, Bulgaria
’s lack of specific legislation protecting the media from state interference is a theoretical weakness. Conditions in Bulgaria’s twelve aging and overcrowded prisons generally are poor. A probate reform in mid-2005 was expected to relieve prison overcrowding.
The police have been accused of abusing prisoners and using illegal investigative methods, and institutional incentives discourage full reporting and investigation of many crimes. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion
, but local governments have attempted to enforce special registration requirements on some groups not designated as historically entitled to full protection. Besides the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
, the faiths so designated are the Jewish, Muslim
, and Roman Catholic. Court backlogs and weak court administration make constitutional protection of defendants’ rights problematic in some instances.
has launched a collective complaint under the European Committee on Social Rights regarding the failure to provide education for children in social care homes run by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; and a case is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the alleged failure to investigate inhuman and degrading treatment in institutions for adults. The documentary "Bulgaria's Abandoned Children" (TrueVision, 2007) was broadcast on BBC Four in the UK in September 2007, and depicts the deprivation of food, health-care and education for children at the institution in Mogilino
. The widespread institutionalisation of children in Bulgaria is unlikely to be consistent with the best interests of the child, and almost certainly violates Article 23 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Articles 11, 12 and 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/
in the Blagoevgrad province
of Bulgaria. The 2001 census shows 5,071 while other sources cite between 3,000 and 25,000. The Greek Helsinki Monitor reports that the "Bulgarian state and public opinion alike deny their right to self-identification", and that "any actions pertaining to public demonstration of the Macedonian identity in Bulgaria are subjected to a more or less direct suppression and denial" http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.doc. That considered, Macedonian is given as an option for nationality on the census
. However, Macedonians are highly discouraged to identify as such and they are subject of abuse from the Bulgarian majority.{[fact}} The Bulgarian majority (including the press) regards Macedonians, living in Bulgaria as 'pure' Bulgarians.
Macedonians have been refused the right to register political parties (see United Macedonian Organisation Ilinden and UMO Ilinden - PIRIN) on the grounds that the party was an "ethnic separatist organisation funded by a foreign government", something that is against the Bulgarian constitution. The constitutional court has not however banned the Evroroma (Евророма) and MRF(ДПС)
parties, who are widely considered as ethnic parties. The European Court of Human Rights
held "unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the European Convention on Human Rights." http://www.bghelsinki.org/press/2005/10_20e.htm http://www.tharwaproject.com/node/3038
The Roma are subjected to harassment in Bulgaria, including the hazing of Roma army conscripts and poor police responses to crimes committed against Romas. A high percentage of Roma children do not attend school, both due to poverty and a lack of teachers who speak their native language.
On the other hand, the mainly ethnic Roma, Free Bulgaria party has been allowed to run for elections and has achieved some success. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/eur/705.htm
as a human rights issue in Europe (see main article: trafficking in human beings). The end of communism has contributed to an increase in human trafficking, with the majority of victims being women forced into prostitution. http://www.coe.int/T/E/Com/Files/Themes/trafficking/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3979725.stm Bulgaria is a country of origin and country of transit for persons, primarily women and children, trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The Bulgarian government has shown some commitment to combat trafficking but has been criticised for failing to develop effective measures in law enforcement and victim protection. http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2005/46613.htm http://www.catwinternational.org/factbook/Bulgaria.php
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
in 2007, its compliance with human rights norms is far from perfect. Although the media have a record of unbiased reporting, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
’s lack of specific legislation protecting the media from state interference is a theoretical weakness. Conditions in Bulgaria’s twelve aging and overcrowded prisons generally are poor. A probate reform in mid-2005 was expected to relieve prison overcrowding.
The police have been accused of abusing prisoners and using illegal investigative methods, and institutional incentives discourage full reporting and investigation of many crimes. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
, but local governments have attempted to enforce special registration requirements on some groups not designated as historically entitled to full protection. Besides the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Bulgarian Orthodox Church
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church with some 6.5 million members in the Republic of Bulgaria and between 1.5 and 2.0 million members in a number of European countries, the Americas and Australia...
, the faiths so designated are the Jewish, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, and Roman Catholic. Court backlogs and weak court administration make constitutional protection of defendants’ rights problematic in some instances.
Institutions for children and adults with mental disabilities
The conditions in Bulgaria's network of institutions for children and adults with mental disabilities have raised concerns. The Mental Disability Advocacy CenterMental Disability Advocacy Center
The Mental Disability Advocacy Center is a non-governmental organisation founded in Hungary in 2002. It is headquartered in Budapest.Founded by the Open Society Foundations , MDAC has participatory status with the Council of Europe, and was granted a special consultative status with the United...
has launched a collective complaint under the European Committee on Social Rights regarding the failure to provide education for children in social care homes run by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; and a case is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the alleged failure to investigate inhuman and degrading treatment in institutions for adults. The documentary "Bulgaria's Abandoned Children" (TrueVision, 2007) was broadcast on BBC Four in the UK in September 2007, and depicts the deprivation of food, health-care and education for children at the institution in Mogilino
Mogilino
Mogilino is a village in Ruse Province, northern Bulgaria. It became well known internationally after several reports about the institution for children with physical and mental disabilities. In 2007, the BBC showed the film "Bulgaria's Abandoned Children"...
. The widespread institutionalisation of children in Bulgaria is unlikely to be consistent with the best interests of the child, and almost certainly violates Article 23 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Articles 11, 12 and 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/
Macedonian minority
There exists a small number of individuals identifying as ethnic MacedonianMacedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
in the Blagoevgrad province
Blagoevgrad Province
Blagoevgrad Province , also known as Pirin Macedonia , is a province of southwestern Bulgaria. It borders four other Bulgarian provinces to the north and east, Greece to the south, and the Republic of Macedonia to the west. The province has 14 municipalities with 12 towns...
of Bulgaria. The 2001 census shows 5,071 while other sources cite between 3,000 and 25,000. The Greek Helsinki Monitor reports that the "Bulgarian state and public opinion alike deny their right to self-identification", and that "any actions pertaining to public demonstration of the Macedonian identity in Bulgaria are subjected to a more or less direct suppression and denial" http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.doc. That considered, Macedonian is given as an option for nationality on the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
. However, Macedonians are highly discouraged to identify as such and they are subject of abuse from the Bulgarian majority.{[fact}} The Bulgarian majority (including the press) regards Macedonians, living in Bulgaria as 'pure' Bulgarians.
Macedonians have been refused the right to register political parties (see United Macedonian Organisation Ilinden and UMO Ilinden - PIRIN) on the grounds that the party was an "ethnic separatist organisation funded by a foreign government", something that is against the Bulgarian constitution. The constitutional court has not however banned the Evroroma (Евророма) and MRF(ДПС)
Movement for Rights and Freedoms
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland...
parties, who are widely considered as ethnic parties. The European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
held "unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the European Convention on Human Rights." http://www.bghelsinki.org/press/2005/10_20e.htm http://www.tharwaproject.com/node/3038
Roma
Numerous cases have been cited regarding the ill-treatment of the Roma population by the Bulgarian police. There is widespread discrimination against the Roma in Bulgarian society, and , the Bulgarian government has not implemented any laws legislating against the discrimination of Roma. http://www.hrw.org/wr2k1/europe/bulgaria.html Bulgarian state security forces have been known to arbitrarily arrest and abuse street children of Roma ethnic origin.http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/eur/705.htmThe Roma are subjected to harassment in Bulgaria, including the hazing of Roma army conscripts and poor police responses to crimes committed against Romas. A high percentage of Roma children do not attend school, both due to poverty and a lack of teachers who speak their native language.
On the other hand, the mainly ethnic Roma, Free Bulgaria party has been allowed to run for elections and has achieved some success. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/eur/705.htm
Human trafficking
There has been a growing awareness of human traffickingHuman trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
as a human rights issue in Europe (see main article: trafficking in human beings). The end of communism has contributed to an increase in human trafficking, with the majority of victims being women forced into prostitution. http://www.coe.int/T/E/Com/Files/Themes/trafficking/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3979725.stm Bulgaria is a country of origin and country of transit for persons, primarily women and children, trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The Bulgarian government has shown some commitment to combat trafficking but has been criticised for failing to develop effective measures in law enforcement and victim protection. http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2005/46613.htm http://www.catwinternational.org/factbook/Bulgaria.php
Religious freedom
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the law prohibits the public practice of religion by unregistered groups. The Constitution also designates Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the "traditional" religion. There were some reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice. Discrimination, harassment, and general public intolerance, particularly in the media, of some religious groups remained an intermittent problem.External links
- Censorship in Bulgaria - IFEXInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
- Documentary - Bulgaria's Abandoned Children
- Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
- Mental Disability Advocacy Center
- Warehouses of Neglect - a blog about human rights violations in Bulgaria's institutions for children and young adults with mental disabilities
- European Roma Rights Center - Strasbourg Court Sanctions Bulgaria for Failure to Bring Perpetrators of Racist Killing to Justice
- NGO Roma Together Database of cases of Roma human rights violations