site.btaJustice Minister Naydenov Reaffirms Bulgaria's Commitment to Human Rights in Meeting with CoE Human Rights Commissioner O'Flaherty

Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to upholding human rights during a meeting with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Michael O'Flaherty. "I assure you of the Bulgarian Government's commitment to the protection of human rights, particularly those of vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the Roma community," Naydenov told O'Flaherty, who is on a working visit to Bulgaria, the Justice Ministry's press office said here on Thursday.

Naydenov and O'Flaherty discussed the rights of older people in residential care institutions and the rights of Roma, focusing in particular on cases involving the demolition of illegal structures serving as people's sole homes, in light of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Minister Naydenov and Deputy Justice Minister Irena Borisova outlined measures Bulgaria has taken in these areas. They include introducing criminal liability for operating residential social care homes without a licence and imposing financial sanctions on legal entities engaged in such activities, as well as increasing penalties for offences related to the abuse and neglect of vulnerable persons.

It was also noted that this spring the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe acknowledged Bulgaria's significant progress in providing effective legal remedies against inadequate living conditions in residential social care institutions. Commissioner O'Flaherty said he was favourably impressed by the social care institutions he visited during his trip.

Regarding cases involving Roma families' sole homes, the Bulgarian side stressed that the country's legal framework reinforces the principle of proportionality in administrative proceedings and that, since 2018, Bulgarian courts have regularly reviewed the proportionality of demolition orders concerning illegal structures. The government also continues to work with local authorities and the Council of Europe to address housing issues affecting Roma and other vulnerable groups.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova also met with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty.