BULGARIA-SOGI-TBs-CRC

Concluding Observations on Report 6-7 (2024) (Link)

Comprehensive policy and strategy

7. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the State party regarding the draft National Strategy for the Child 2024–2030, but remains deeply concerned about the lack of progress in adopting the strategy. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Adopt a comprehensive policy and action plan on children’s rights, with the participation of children, that encompasses all areas covered by the Convention and includes specific, time-bound and measurable goals;

(b) Provide adequate human, technical and financial resources for the implementation and monitoring of the policy and action plan, including through accountability mechanisms and regular monitoring and evaluation;

(c) Implement systemic reforms in areas affecting children, such as violence, child justice, reproductive health, and protection of children in disadvantaged situations, including Roma, refugee, asylum-seeking, migrant, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children.

 

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Non-discrimination

16. The Committee notes the establishment of a permanent working group in the Commission for Protection against Discrimination to address discrimination against children, but remains deeply concerned about persistent discrimination against Roma children, children from racial minorities, children with disabilities, and other groups of children in disadvantaged situations.

17. The Committee urges the State party to:

… (e) Ensure that children who experience discrimination, bullying or harassment in relation to their racial background, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity receive protection and support, including through targeted anti-bullying measures;

(f) Address discriminatory stereotypes against refugee and migrant children, children with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and promote a positive image of them as rights holders;…

 

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Harmful practices

27. The Committee welcomes the amendment of the Family Code to remove exceptions to the age of marriage of 18 years, but remains concerned about the persistence of child marriages and cases where children’s marriages were authorized by a judge. Recalling joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2019) on harmful practices, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Strengthen measures to prevent child marriages, particularly among Roma girls, and ensure that these effectively address the root causes; and raise public awareness, train relevant professional groups, and identify and investigate cases of child marriage;

(b) Ensure that the performance of unnecessary medical or surgical treatment on intersex children is safely deferred until children are able to provide their informed consent, that incidents of unnecessary medical or surgical treatment of intersex children are investigated, and that victims receive redress and psychosocial support;

(c) Train medical and psychological professionals on sexual, biological and physical diversity and on the consequences of unnecessary surgical and other medical interventions for intersex children.

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Concluding Observations on Report 3-5 (2016) (Link)

[no mention]

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Concluding Observations on Report 2 (2008) (Link)

[no mention]

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Concluding Observations on Report 1 (1997) (Link)

[no mention]

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