site.btaAmnesty International Warns of Global Threat to Human Rights, Highlights Concerns in Bulgaria

Amnesty International Bulgaria presented its annual report, The State of the World's Human Rights, at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia on Tuesday, assessing conditions in 144 countries. The non-governmental organization has urged governments not to allow the emergence of a global order that undermines human rights, describing the current moment as critical for humanity.

According to Amnesty International, the world is on the brink of a dangerous new era, as powerful states, corporations, and anti-rights movements challenge multilateralism, international law, and fundamental human rights. It called on governments, international institutions, and civil society to reject policies of appeasement and jointly resist these pressures.

“We are facing one of the most difficult moments of our time. Humanity is under attack from transnational anti-rights movements and hostile governments determined to impose dominance through unlawful wars and blatant economic coercion,” said Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard.

Bulgaria in Focus

The report says that Bulgaria reflects broader European and global trends. Pressure on rights is evident in the media environment, civic space, gender-based violence, and persistent discrimination against vulnerable groups.

A lawsuit against Mediapool.bg and journalist Boris Mitov is cited as an example of the chilling effect on investigative journalism. Media freedom remains under strain due to abusive legal actions, political pressure, and insecure working conditions. During the year, a legislative proposal to sanction journalists was introduced but later withdrawn following strong public backlash.

Civil society organizations continue to operate in a hostile environment marked by smear campaigns and recurring attempts to introduce a so-called “foreign agents” law, among other restrictive measures.

Gender-based violence remains a serious and systemic issue. No progress has been made toward establishing a centralized database to track such cases, and at least 24 women were reportedly killed as a result of domestic violence.

Roma and LGBTI communities continue to face widespread discrimination. The report highlights the unlawful eviction of Roma families from the Zaharna Fabrika neighborhood in April 2025, carried out in violation of European Court of Human Rights rulings, as a stark example of systemic marginalization, Amnesty International said.

Additional concerns include shortcomings in the protection of migrants and refugees, as well as inadequate care for people with disabilities and the elderly, pointing to broader issues of weak safeguards and limited accountability.

“Institutions and formal mechanisms are not enough if they fail to ensure real protection, timely response, and independence,” said Nayden Rashkov, Director of Amnesty International Bulgaria.