US: Bulgaria Mistreats Roma, Lacks Media Freedom

Society | April 20, 2013, Saturday // 10:26
Bulgaria: US: Bulgaria Mistreats Roma, Lacks Media Freedom

The marginalization of the Romani minority remains Bulgaria’s most pressing human rights problem, according to the US Department of State’s latest report on the country’s human rights practices.

The report has also drawn attenction to deterioration of Bulgaria’s media environment and the increase in media self-censorship due to corporate and political pressure.

Corruption continues to be a drag on the government’s capabilities, undermining public confidence in the judiciary and other state institutions, according to the US Department of State.

Other human rights problems include alleged mistreatment of prisoners and detainees and harsh conditions in prisons and detention facilities, including overcrowding.

“There were also long delays in the judicial system; reports of abuse of wiretapping; violence and discrimination against women; violence against children; anti-Semitic vandalism; discrimination against members of the Romani and Turkish ethnic minorities; trafficking in persons; and discrimination against persons with disabilities, against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, and those with HIV/AIDS,” the report says.

The report has noted that the Bulgarian government “took steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed abuses both in the security services and elsewhere in the government.” However, the report has described these actions as insufficient, with impunity remaining a problem.

The full report can be read HERE.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Society » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Department of State, human rights, Bulgaria, corruption, media, Roma, judicial system, prisons

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria