Promotion of the rights of trafficked persons in Bulgaria
- Document number
- 3034
- Date
- 2013
- Title
- Promotion of the rights of trafficked persons in Bulgaria
- Author/publisher
- Animus Association
- Availability
- View/save PDF version of this document
- Document type(s)
- Guidelines/Recommendations, LSI publication, Research/Study/Analysis,
- Keywords
- human trafficking, exploitation, human rights, Bulgaria
- Summary
Animus Association has analysed how the rights of trafficked persons are respected and promoted in Bulgaria. Despite increasing awareness that trafficking and the exploitation of human beings under forced labour or slavery-like conditions constitute severe human rights violations, states tend to focus on the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators, while the protection of the rights of trafficked persons lags behind. Often victims are purely seen as an instrument for the prosecution with little regard for the far reaching impact testifying against their exploiters may have on their current and future wellbeing, safety and life.
This report provides a legal analysis of the position of trafficked persons in criminal and other relevant proceedings in Bulgaria and their treatment by the judicial system, in particular their access to legal aid and the protection of their rights as victims and witnesses, including access to compensation. It contains an analysis of the legal provisions pertaining to the position of victim/witness of trafficking and their implementation in practice, based on the experiences of service providers and information from interviews with victims. Attention is also paid to the national definition of trafficking and its implementation, in particular whether it offers equal protection without discrimination to all possible victims, including sex workers and victims of trafficking and exploitation for other purposes than prostitution.
The research was conducted within the Project "Promotion of the Rights of Trafficked Persons in Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia with Emphasis on Legal Support” (HOME/2011/ISEC/AG/4000002581), implemented in Bulgaria by Animus Association Foundation and coordinated by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee.