Efficient legal aid for refugees and migrants in Bulgaria

About this project

<p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #F8F8F8">The increased influx of refugees and migrants to Bulgaria over the last couple of years has drawn attention to the importance of respecting the human rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Even though Bulgaria has ratified the main international legislative tools and has transposed the EU Directives regarding international protection and migration, observations of field work as well as the reports of international observers show that there is serious shortage regarding respect for human rights. Practices violating human rights such as push-backs from the territory and refusal to give access to the asylum procedure, detention in migration facilities at odds with the principles of necessity and proportionality, deportation carried out without risk assessment and in a humiliating and inhuman manner and asylum procedures without an assessment of the individual circumstances are common and extensively documented. The project aims to provide legal aid (counselling, representation before administrative institutions and courts) to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, and advocacy before the officials working with them and judges and thus contribute to better respect for human rights in individual cases, as well as to a positive change in institutional and court practices in Bulgaria.</span> The two partners will work together to reach out to a greater number of end users and join efforts to provide legal aid based on the best legal standards in the field. The joint work will include regular supervision and coordination meetings between the legal experts and the teams of the two organizations. The partnership is also aimed at achieving broader and long-term strategic cooperation, exchange of experience and expertise, joint advocacy at national and international level for the effective protection of human rights of refuges and migrants.</span></span></p>

Project partners

• Foundation for access to rights Project partner· Bulgaria