News

17 December 2025

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva sent a letter to Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev regarding publicly disclosed information about actions taken by the principal of a school in Sofia, who allegedly installed hidden cameras in school toilets.

The public defender expresses concern and emphasizes that if such actions are proven, it would constitute an extremely serious and unacceptable violation of the fundamental rights of children. Such a practice would constitute a gross violation of the right to personal integrity, human dignity, and the protection of the child's privacy, values that are fundamental to both the Bulgarian legal system and international standards for child protection.

The Ombudsman's letter states that although the issue of violence among children and safety in schools is the focus of public and institutional debate, the present case shows a dangerous risk of shifting boundaries – from the pursuit of security to practices of control and surveillance that can seriously undermine the personality and mental integrity of children.

The Ombudsman emphasizes that school should be a safe and secure environment where children can develop as fully-fledged individuals, without fear, humiliation, or interference in their personal space. Any act that creates a feeling of surveillance or violates a child's privacy undermines trust in school as a place of learning and growth and causes serious damage to the mental and emotional well-being of students.

In this regard, the Ombudsman insists that parents and guardians be provided with timely, complete, and transparent information both on the immediate actions taken in the case and on the preventive measures that will be introduced to prevent similar incidents in the future, if they are proven. Parents must be an active and informed party in the process of ensuring a safe and secure school environment.

In her statement, the public defender reminds that all school policies and management decisions must be fully consistent with the principles and spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which affirms human rights, personal dignity, and the best interests of every child as the primary standard.

The Ombudsman expects the Ministry of Education and Science, within the scope of its powers, to take all necessary measures to clarify the case, as well as to prevent similar serious violations and to ensure a school environment in which the rights, dignity, and well-being of children are effectively protected and placed at the core of educational policy.