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Bulgaria - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 36, November 6, 2020
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

Thank you, Madame President.

Canada welcomes the positive steps taken by Bulgaria to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and violence against women and girls.

Canada recommends that Bulgaria:

1. Improve enforcement of laws criminalizing rape, including by conducting thorough investigations, compiling detailed statistical data, and prosecuting all acts of gender-based violence.
2. Investigate and hold to account those who threaten, intimidate and harm journalists, civil society and peaceful protesters, including the reporters who were injured in the protests in August 2020 in Sofia.
3. Conduct adequate investigations and prosecutions into incidents of hate speech with due regard to motives by requiring courts to regularly report, record, and make public cases where hate speech or hate crimes have or have not been considered in court proceedings. 

Canada continues to be concerned about limitations on freedom of expression, pluralism and transparency of ownership in the media sector. As recommended during Bulgaria’s last UPR, Canada urges the Republic of Bulgaria to repeal the 1970 National Security Act to ensure freedom of the press.

Background

The Republic of Bulgaria places great importance on the domestic implementation of its international obligations, especially in its current capacity as member of the Human Rights Council. Bulgaria has committed to continue its efforts to promote and protect the human rights of all persons in its territory. In recent years, Bulgaria has made notable strides to improve prevention and repression of domestic violence by adopting legislative amendments to the Criminal Code to regulate the protection of the rights of victims of violence. Bulgaria has also taken several steps to pursue and strengthen its efforts to improve access to justice and independence of the judiciary.

While these are improvements, important challenges remain. Violence and discrimination against women and girls remain common and are often ignored or not taken seriously by state authorities, including the police.

Furthermore, Amnesty International has reported discrimination against Roma, including the forcible eviction and destruction of homes in Roma communities in recent years. Jewish, LGBTI, and other groups also reported a rise in the number of violent incidents. Racist and intolerant rhetoric increased in the lead-up to European Parliament and local elections; the authorities not only failed to condemn hate speech, but some actively encouraged or engaged in it. Minority groups continued to be at risk of persistent discrimination and harassment.

Another challenge is the lack of a mechanism within the police that could assure transparency of internal investigations and punishment for excessively using force, particularly regarding the recent injuries of journalists and civil protestors following the protests that began in July.