Bulgaria: Extant Roma rights organizations in Bulgaria, specifically in Aksakovo and Varna; number of Roma lawyers in Bulgaria, specifically in Aksakovo and Varna; whether there exists Roma community legal aid or a legal aid system in Bulgaria
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 17 March 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR41221.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Extant Roma rights organizations in Bulgaria, specifically in Aksakovo and Varna; number of Roma lawyers in Bulgaria, specifically in Aksakovo and Varna; whether there exists Roma community legal aid or a legal aid system in Bulgaria , 17 March 2003, BGR41221.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d600.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. |
The Research Directorate found no reports of NGOs operating in Aksakovo (Aksakov) among the sources consulted; however, the Gavroche Association (EU 2000) and the Federation of United Roma Communities (OSI May 2000) are mentioned in association with Roma projects in Varna. In addition, please consult BGR39490.E of 25 June 2002 for an extensive list of Roma NGOs in Bulgaria.
The Research Directorate was unable to find a list of lawyers in Bulgaria that self-identify as Roma among the sources consulted. In 1997, Dimitrina Petrova of the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) claimed that there were "less than ten" Roma lawyers in Central Europe and described these ten as people who "usually ... do not want to engage in defense of Roma rights, who prefer not to identify themselves as Roma" (PILI 21 Nov. 1997).
According to a 2001 ERRC report, access to legal counsel remains a "serious problem" for Roma, and the "national legal aid system has a long way to go to reach even the minimum standards guaranteed by international law." The Director of the ERRC's legal programme was unaware of any Roma NGO providing legal assistance in Varna or Aksakovo (ERRC 17 Mar. 2003). The Legal Director added that the ERRC has "provided financial support with respect to litigation" to the Sofia-based NGOs Romani Baht, the Human Rights Project and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (ibid.). Additional sources also indicate that Romani Baht (ERRC Spring 1997) and the Human Rights Project (HRP 11 June 1998; The Multicultural Skyscraper Newsletter 15 Mar. 2002) provide legal assistance to the Roma community. In addition, the Open Society Foundation has a program that offers free legal aid services for Roma in Sofia (OSI 2001).
For further information on the legal aid available to Roma citizens in Bulgaria, please consult BGR39200.E of 12 July 2002 and BGR39490 of 25 June 2002.
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
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), Budapest, Hungary. 17 March 2003. Correspondence with the Legal Director.
_____. 2001. Roma Rights. No. 1. Krassimir Kanev. "Roma and Access to Justice in Bulgaria." _____. Spring 1997. Roma Rights. "Symposium Report Legal Defence of the Rights of Roma (Budapest 11-14 January 1997)." European Union (EU). 2000. "PHARE Access 2000." Human Rights Project (HRP) [Sofia]. 6 November 1998. "Roma in Bulgaria: HRP Statement to the OSCE Meeting." (MINELRES List Serve 6 Nov. 1998/MINELRES) The Multicultural Skyscraper Newsletter. 15 March 2002. Vol. 1, No. 5. Kamelia Angelova. "Media Advocacy Work for the Roma in Bulgaria." Open Society Institute (OSI). 2001. "Open Society Foundation - Sofia (Bulgaria)." _____. May 2000. Jennifer Tanaka. "Roma in the Educational System of Bulgaria - A Problem Analysis." Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI). 21 November 1997. "Legal Defence of Roma (Gypsies) in Central and Eastern Europe: Panel Discussion." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
Internet sites, including:
Amnesty International
Balkan Human Rights Web
Bulgaria, Ministry of Interior
Bulgaria, Ministry of Justice
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Bulgarian Society for Regional and Cultural Studies
Child Hope (UK)
Council of Europe
European Roma Rights Center
Government of Bulgaria
Greek Helsinki Committee
Human Rights Watch
Multicultural.net
Open Society Foundation
Union of Bulgarian Foundations and Associations
World News Connection
