Bulgaria: Information on whether the human rights of ethnic Macedonians are denied or curtailed on account of their ethnicity
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR28809.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Information on whether the human rights of ethnic Macedonians are denied or curtailed on account of their ethnicity, 1 February 1998, BGR28809.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab342c.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In telephone interviews on 4 and 20 February 1998, the chair of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee in Sofia provided the following information, which represents the organization's viewpoint. Ethnic Macedonians who do not publicly declare their ethnicity do not encounter any significant discrimination or violation of their human rights in Bulgaria. However, those who do publicly declare their ethnicity are susceptible to being victims of systematic discrimination, and their susceptibility largely depends on their place of residence. They are more likely to encounter discrimination, such as in the workplace or when involved with the criminal justice system, in small towns and villages than in the larger urban areas. The chair is aware of several recent cases in small towns in which ethnic Macedonians encountered difficulty in receiving social benefits and obtaining employment on account of having publicly declaring their ethnicity.
For information on the government treatment of ethnic Macedonians who belong to UMO-Ilinden, please consult section 2 b. of Country Reports 1997, which is available on SHARENET (an IRB database).
Additional or corroborating information on whether the human rights of ethnic Macedonians are denied or curtailed on account of their ethnicity could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Sofia. 20 February 1998. Telephone interview with the chair.
_____. 4 February 1998. Telephone interview with the chair.
Additional Sources Consulted
CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.
Electronic sources: IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).
Minority Rights Group International Report [London]. Irregular.
Nationalities Papers [Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK]. Quarterly.
News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.
Resource Centre country file on Bulgaria.
Transition [Prague]. Twice monthly.
Uncaptive Minds [Washington]. Quarterly.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact other oral sources.
