The Roma Minority,
which represents about 5% of the population, continues to suffer from discrimination
including in contacts with the administration. Police protection is inadequate.
Social exclusion is considerable, with high levels of poverty, illiteracy
and very high levels of unemployment. A disproportionate number of Roma
children are sent to special schools for the mentally handicapped. Health
and housing conditions remain considerably lower than those of the rest
of the population.
Some steps have been taken
to improve the situation of the Roma minority:
A framework programme for
the integration of Roma into Bulgarian society was adopted in April 1999.
This followed extensive consultations between the government and most of
the Roma organisations and human rights NGOs within the framework of the
National Council for Ethnic and Demographic issues. The programme sets
out core principles and general measures to fight discrimination and unemployment,
increase levels of education and health care, improve housing conditions,
and to ensure cultural protection and access to national media.
The framework programme envisages
the establishment of a National Committee for Prevention of Discrimination.
Following the creation of
28 regions in Bulgaria, Roma representatives have been appointed to 10
of the 28 regional centres. Roma advisors have also been appointed to a
number of ministries.
The above measures reflect
the political commitment of the Bulgarian government towards improving
the situation of the Roma. However, the framework programme must now be
followed up by concrete actions by the ministries concerned. The necessary
budgetary means for the implementation of this programme also need to be
allocated.