News

13 January 2026

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva took part in a public discussion on "Civil Society – A Bridge Between People and Institutions," organized by the European Studies Club in the auditorium of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski."

Other panelists at the forum included Nadezhda Tsekulova from the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and Iva Lazarova from the Institute for the Development of the Public Environment.

In her speech to the young people, Velislava Delcheva emphasized that the Ombudsman Institution is a natural partner of civil society and a key defender of the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. She drew attention to the fact that during its 20 years of existence, the Ombudsman Institution has consistently expanded the scope of its activities and today has one of the broadest mandates among similar European institutions – in protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, children, people with disabilities, consumers, as well as in areas such as education, healthcare, labor, and social rights.

During the discussion, the Ombudsman pointed out that Bulgaria had an active civil society, which played a significant role in formulating and defending the public interest. In this context, she highlighted the sustainable interaction between the institution and the non-governmental sector.

"Every year, the Ombudsman Institution works and interacts with nearly 300 civil society organisations, which clearly shows that Bulgaria has an abundance of organizations and institutions where people, citizens, can exercise a significant part of their fundamental rights and interests," said the Ombudsman.

Velislava Delcheva focused particularly on the importance of active civic participation and successful examples of cooperation between the Ombudsman and civil society organisations in protecting fundamental rights, including through inspections, advocacy initiatives, and proceedings before the Constitutional Court.

In her speech, she also emphasized the Institution's commitment to supporting the autonomy and sustainable development of civil society, including through opinions on legislative proposals and actions to protect civil space. The role of the European Union as a key partner in supporting democracy and civil society organisations was also highlighted.

The Ombudsman's participation ended with a call for active dialogue between institutions, the academic community, and civil society organisations as a basis for effective protection of rights and the development of a democratic society.