In 2025, the Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD) initiated 518 proceedings concerning protection against discrimination, a substantial increase compared to the 179 proceedings recorded in 2024, according to CPD Chair Elka Bozhova in Montana. The Commission subsequently issued decisions across 418 proceedings. Bozhova noted that the most frequent complaints received by the CPD related to discrimination in the exercise of the right to work, citing instances where employers failed to adhere to collective labor agreements.
Furthermore, reports also addressed cases involving hate speech disseminated through televised and media statements by politicians. In the realm of physical accessibility, the Montana Region conducted numerous inspections of publicly significant buildings under the “Accessible Bulgaria” campaign. This effort resulted in 62 new proceedings in 2025 regarding the accessible architectural environment.
In most reported cases, building owners have since taken measures to ensure access for people with disabilities who previously faced significant difficulty reaching these structures. To bolster regional capacity, a three-day professional development seminar is currently underway in Montana. This seminar trains civil servants from the town and region to better identify instances of discrimination and appropriately guide individuals toward the CPD representation service.
As part of the training curriculum, participants are tasked with assuming the role of experts to determine whether discrimination has occurred in specific simulated cases, reinforcing the commitment to robust protection measures.
Topics: #discrimination #proceedings #protection
The significant jump in proceedings between 2024 and 2025 suggests a heightened level of concern regarding discrimination issues.