The Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD) reported a significant increase in activity in 2025, with 518 proceedings initiated to address allegations of discrimination, a notable rise compared to the 179 proceedings recorded in 2024. During this period, the Commission issued decisions concerning 418 cases. According to CPD Chair Elka Bozhova, the primary focus of complaints and alerts received concerned protection against discrimination within the right to work.
A frequent issue noted was the failure of certain employers to comply with established collective labor agreements. Furthermore, the CPD addressed instances of hate speech disseminated through televised and media statements by political figures. In addition to employment rights, the CPD emphasized efforts to improve accessibility.
Under the “Accessible Bulgaria” campaign, numerous inspections were conducted on publicly significant buildings, leading to 62 proceedings in 2025 regarding the accessible architectural environment. Bozhova noted that in many instances, building owners have since implemented measures to ensure access for people with disabilities who previously faced barriers. To bolster preventative measures, a three-day professional development seminar is currently underway in Montana.
This training educates civil servants from the town and region on how to recognize potential cases of discrimination and properly direct individuals to the CPD representation service. As part of the advanced training, participants are simulating expert roles to determine whether discrimination has occurred in specific case scenarios.
Topics: #discrimination #proceedings #protection
