Bulgaria
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ODIHR Legal Reviews, Assessments
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Opinions
Становището анализира проекта на Закон за регистрация на чуждестранни агенти в България и изразява сериозна загриженост относно неговата съвместимост с международните стандарти за правата на човека, по-специално правото на свобода на сдружаване и правото на свобода на изразяване. Проектът на закон налага тежки задължения за регистрация и разкриване на информация на нестопански организации и медии, които получават чуждестранна подкрепа, като ги обозначава като „чуждестранни агенти“, което създава риск от стигматизация и непряка дискриминация. Тези ограничения нямат легитимна цел, както е определено в международното право, и не се основават на подходяща оценка на риска или доказателства, че настоящите разпоредби са недостатъчни. Обосновката за закона – подобряване на прозрачността – сама по себе си не оправдава такива интрузивни мерки, особено при липса на доказани заплахи за националната сигурност или обществения ред. В законодателния процес не бяха проведени значими консултации със засегнатите заинтересовани страни. Неясният обхват на закона и несъразмерните санкции могат да възпрепятстват законните дейности на гражданското общество и да потиснат несъгласието, подкопавайки демократичния диалог и плурализма. В крайна сметка в становището се заключава, че проектът на закон следва да бъде изцяло оттеглен, тъй като не отговаря на строгите изисквания за легитимност, законност, необходимост, пропорционалност и недискриминация, които оправдават потенциалните ограничения на правата на свобода на сдружаване и свобода на изразяване съгласно международните инструменти.
The Opinion analyzes Bulgaria’s Draft Foreign Agents Registration Act, raising serious concerns about its compatibility with international human rights standards, particularly the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression. The Draft Act imposes burdensome registration and disclosure obligations on non-profit organizations and media receiving foreign support, labeling them as “foreign agents”, which risks stigmatization and indirect discrimination. These restrictions lack a legitimate aim as defined by international law and are not based on a proper risk assessment or evidence that current regulations are insufficient. The justification for the Act—improving transparency—does not, on its own, warrant such intrusive measures, especially in the absence of demonstrable threats to national security or public order. The legislative process also failed to include meaningful consultation with affected stakeholders. The Act’s vague scope and disproportionate sanctions could deter legitimate civil society activities and suppress dissent, undermining democratic discourse and pluralism. Ultimately, the Opinion concludes that the Draft Act should be withdrawn entirely, as it fails to meet the strict requirements of legitimacy, legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination to justify potential restrictions to the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression according to international instruments.
The Act amending Bulgaria’s Preschool and School Education Act was adopted in August 2024 and introduces a ban on the “promotion,” “propaganda,” or “incitement” of ideas related to so-called “non-traditional” sexual orientation or gender identity, allegedly to protect children and uphold traditional family values. However, the Opinion finds that this provision infringes on multiple fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, access to information, education, and non-discrimination. The terms used in the law are vague and overly broad, creating legal uncertainty and enabling arbitrary enforcement. The justifications cited for the law lack evidence-based support and fail to qualify as legitimate aims under international human rights standards. Additionally, the Act does not consider children’s evolving capacities or distinguish between truly harmful materials – defined in accordance with international instruments and information protected under the right to freedom of expression and access to information, leading to excessively restrictive measures. The amendments also disproportionately affects LGBTI individuals, especially LGBTI children, promoting stigma and discrimination in schools and fostering an unsafe, exclusionary environment. Ultimately, the Opinion concludes such a ban results in unjustifiable and disproportionate interference with protected rights and must be repealed in its entirety. Instead, Bulgaria should ensure that education is delivered in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner, with age-appropriate content that respects the evolving capacities of children and adolescents and promotes tolerance, equality, diversity, and respect for human rights in school curricula and environments
The purpose of this Legal Opinion is to analyse the Bulgarian legislation on combating trafficking in human beings (THB), including the Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Act, and relevant provisions of the Crime Victim Assistance and Financial Compensation Act, and the Criminal Code, and to assess their compliance with the commitments and obligations under the international law.
Overall, Bulgaria’s legal framework on preventing and combating (THB) is well developed and contains many of the most important aspects of international law. At the same time, the definitions of the relevant criminal and other provisions should be expanded in order to ensure that all forms of human trafficking are covered. Moreover, the underlying legislation could be further strengthened in terms of measures to protect and assist victims of trafficking and be supplemented to prevent THB and address the root causes and the demand side.
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