Events

"Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.“ - Article 1, ICERD

Sixty years ago, the international community made a historic commitment to a future free of racism by adopting the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), a key UN international treaty that affirms the right to equality and dignity for all. Unfortunately, racism persists in many forms today. The Convention is as important now as it was in 1965. It has made a fundamental contribution to the fight against racial discrimination, racial segregation and apartheid, and to achieving equality without distinction based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.

Bulgaria has committed to eliminate all forms of discrimination from different legal sources: the UN system (ICERD and other UN Conventions), the Council of Europe (Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights and other Council of Europe Conventions, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance - ECRI) and the EU (Art. 20-23 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the Treaties and subsequent strategic documents). The CERD anniversary is an occasion to recall and discuss effective and innovative practices to address structural and emerging challenges in the fight against racial discrimination.

The EU pays particular attention to racism continuing to be an obstacle to justice, equality and full participation in society across the Union. Continued discrimination and its profound impact on individuals and societies requires political will, stronger enforcement and a shared commitment to lasting change. The EU Action Plan to Combat Racism 2020-2025 aims to strengthen national strategies in Member States, increases funding to combat racism and improves data collection to better inform policy-making. By the end of 2025, the Commission plans to present the first anti-racism strategy to build on these efforts and accelerate progress.

Bulgaria states that is increasingly committed to fighting racism in all its forms. It is positive that the country voluntarily participates in monitoring mechanisms, such as with the ICERD Committee (UN), the ECRI (Council of Europe), initiatives linked with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights – FRA (EU). Monitoring is, however, in itself not enough. It is supposed to be followed by regular actions, such as publications and discussions of concrete and measurable results of public policies aimed at preventing and eliminating all forms of discrimination. It is in the interest of the entire society (economic, social, educational) that human rights are respected and equal opportunities are provided to all.
The Ombudsman continues to monitor the respect for human rights of all ethnicities under the ICERD, closely monitoring the long-standing concerning practice of forced evictions and arbitrary destruction of property by the state.