Problems for Bulgaria continue to be the deterioration of freedom of expression, the violation of the rights of the LGBTI community and the instilling of hatred against ethnic minorities – this is stated in the conclusions of the annual report of “Amnesty International”.
The human rights organization has released its 2023-2024 annual report on the state of human rights in 155 countries.
In the report on Bulgaria, the organization draws attention to the deepening deterioration of freedom of expression in the country, noting the expansion of the practice of filing strategic “slap cases” against media and journalists. as a form of harassment and stopping inconvenient investigations.
The organization notes the parliament’s efforts to provide better protection to journalists against such practices, but defines changes to the Criminal Code as “inadequate”.
“Amnesty International” draws attention to the increasingly frequent cases of illegal expulsion of refugees and migrants on the border with Turkey, the frequent cases of clear discrimination against Roma and attempts to inculcating hatred against ethnic minorities by political parties.
“The report notes Bulgaria’s continued inability to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities and emphasizes on the alarming state of conditions for people housed in psychiatric institutions and social care homes.
The rights of LGBTI people in the country are still not guaranteed, after the Supreme Court of Cassation canceled the possibility of legal gender reassignment for trans people. Still there is no legal recognition of same-sex couples in the countrywhich is a violation of the right to private and family life, the organization states.
“In the last year, we have observed a deterioration of the state of human rights in Bulgaria, and this requires greater responsibility from the government and state institutions. A broad public engagement is needed for a better understanding and respect of human rights, as well as for mechanisms for civil participation. This will be the main focus of the newly formed office of “Amnesty International Bulgaria”, along with the building of a strong network of activists and supporters and the active dialogue with partners and the government”, commented Nayden Rashkov, director of “Amnesty International Bulgaria”, quoted in the organization’s announcement.
The report on Bulgaria is available, translated into Bulgarian, on the organization’s website.
Human rights are facing the most serious threats on a global scale in decades
As for the sightings on a global scale, the organization warns that the world is facing a watershed moment for international law amid flagrant rule-breaking by governments and corporate giants.
The increase in armed conflicts and the lack of will to actually apply international law are the most serious threat to human rights globally. At the same time, the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the inability to introduce adequate regulation are creating new conditions for discrimination, racism and division, the report notes.
“Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law is compounded by the failure of its allies to stop the untold bloodshed to which civilians in the Gaza Strip are subjected,” Amnesty Secretary General Anies Callamar said, quoted by DPA and BTA.
“Together with Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine, the increasing number of armed conflicts and the large-scale human rights abuses we are witnessing, for example in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, the rules-based global order is in danger of breaking down,” she added.
Democracies have also not shied away from the organization’s criticism, with Callamar saying that “what we see in 2023 confirms that many of the powerful countries ignore the fundamental values of humanity and the universality enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
The report criticized the US’s use of its veto power to block a UN Security Council vote on a Gaza ceasefire resolution for months.
The report “further highlights the grotesque double standards of European countries such as Britain and Germany, given their well-founded protests against war crimes committed by Russia and Hamas, yet supporting the actions of the Israeli and US authorities in this conflict.” , Amnesty wrote in its press release.
The war in Ukraine is another key reason for the deterioration of the global human rights situation.
“Amnesty” pointed to the indiscriminate attacks by Russian forces “in populated areas, against civilian infrastructure and the disruption of grain exports.”
“Both Russian and Ukrainian forces use cluster bombs despite their indiscriminate nature and persistent risks to civilians,” the report said.
“Amnesty International’s report paints a picture of an alarming suppression of human rights and increasing violations of international rules, in the context of deepening global inequalities, a race for supremacy between superpowers and an escalating climate crisis,” Calamar said.
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Tags: Amnesty reports increase slap cases media journalists country
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