Country detail - yourHRC.org

Bulgaria

Regional group:

Eastern European Group (EEG)

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Council Bureau membership:	Vice-president (2021)
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2017)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2022) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Consultative Group (2008)
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A and B

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Standing - Inter-Ministerial

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Contribution of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms to achieving the purposes and upholding the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; Moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

Voting record

In 2019, when a vote was called on country-specific item 2 texts (reports of the High Commissioner), Bulgaria tended to vote in favour; the only exceptions were an abstention during voting on the text on Venezuela and a vote against the resolution on the OPT. Concerning item 4 (human rights situations that require the Council’s attention) resolutions, Bulgaria either joined consensus or voted in favour of all texts. During voting on item 7 resolutions (OPT), when a vote was called its first membership term, Bulgaria voted against the text on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, abstained during the voting on the resolution on Israeli settlements, and voted in favour of the texts on the right of Palestinian people to self-determination and the human rights situation in the OPT. For item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Bulgaria joined consensus on all texts and, when a vote was called, voted in favour. For thematic resolutions, Bulgaria usually voted against. Notable exceptions include the votes in favour of the text on the death penalty and the resolution on the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and an abstention during voting on the text on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin.

View full voting record

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 98

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 46

270

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 61

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Country has not previously held a seat on the Council

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on food, 2015

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CAT
0.13 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Received Sub-Committee visit

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2010, 2015, 2020)

Mid-term report

1st and 2nd cycles

Level of delegation

Inter-Ministerial

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 9 / 192

2^nd cycle: 41 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2022)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

Bulgaria presented voluntary pledges and commitments in support of its candidature for membership for the period 2019-2021 on 6 June 2018.

Key pledges include, inter alia:

At the national level: Intensify cooperation with developing countries, including through projects aimed at building democratic institutions and protecting
human rights; Continue to report regularly to the Treaty Bodies, implement their recommendations, and cooperate with their individual complaints mechanisms. Further implement its international human rights obligations; Submit a UPR mid-term report by the end of 2018; Further cooperate with all Special Procedures. Strengthen its collaboration with OHCHR and the regional human rights bodies; Work on the following priority areas: inter-ministerial and public dialogue to further promote and protect human rights in Bulgaria; rights of the child; gender equality; rights of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups; ethnic and religious tolerance; freedoms of speech, expression, religion and belief; rights of migrants and refugees; and rule of law, democracy and good governance; Continue to support a rights-based approach to the 2030 Agenda; Spread awareness on the need to strengthen NHRIs and national human rights frameworks.

At the international level: Further support the work of OHCHR and the UN human rights mechanisms, including the Special Procedures; Support initiatives aimed at strengthening the efficiency of the Council, improving its working methods, and promoting universal participation; Support efforts aimed at strengthening the independence, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Treaty Bodies and the Special Procedures; Support the further strengthening of the UPR; Support efforts to bring grave country-specific situations to the attention of the UN, and ensure that these addressed properly, including by demanding accountability and by ending impunity; Help strengthen the CRPD; Work on, encourage and support initiatives in the following thematic areas: civil society participation; human rights defenders; rights of the child, particularly inclusive education and early childhood development; gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence; and human trafficking.

An analysis of the steps taken by Bulgaria to fulfil its international pledges, shows that it did a voluntary contribution to the OHCHR. It extended a standing invitation to the Special Procedures, and has facilitated most visit requests. Bulgaria responded to 75% of communications.

Regarding cooperation with the Treaty Bodies, Bulgaria has ratified seven core conventions (it is yet to ratify the CED) and has submitted or is on schedule to submit most of its periodic reports.

Bulgaria has supported all the initiatives it pledged to work on.

Bulgaria

Eastern European Group (EEG)

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 9 / 192

2nd cycle: 41 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 9 / 192

2^nd cycle: 41 / 192