National Documentation Packages (NDPs) are lists of public documents that provide information on country conditions. Updates occur on a regular basis.
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Jurisprudential Guides Notes
Jurisprudential Guides Notes
On
July 28, 2022, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide:
-
Decision TC1 05038 – The proper interpretation of the ‘generalized risk’ exception to protection found at subparagraph 97(1)(b)(ii) of the Act, in claims for protection involving allegations of gang-targeting or other acts of criminality.
On
December 22, 2020, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision MB8-00025 – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses, in applying Article 1E of the Refugee Convention, whether members should consider allegations of risk in a country of residence if they conclude that a refugee claimant has the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of nationality in that country.
On
July 6, 2018, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision TB7-19851 – Nigeria – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses internal flight alternatives in major cities in south and central Nigeria for claimants fleeing non-state actors.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 10, 2018.
On
July 20, 2017, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being
Jurisprudential Guides.
-
Decision TB7-01837 – Pakistan – Whether the treatment experienced by Ahmadis in Pakistan amounts to persecution, whether state protection is available and whether there is a viable internal flight alternative.
-
Decision MB6-01059/60 – India – Availability of an internal flight alternative in India for claimants from Punjab.
Revoked
-
Decision TB6-11632 – China – Analysis of the efficacy of the Chinese national computer network known as the Golden Shield Project and its impact on whether a person wanted by the authorities can exit China via an airport using a genuine passport.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 20, 2017.
Back
31 August 2023
BULGARIA
List of Documents
1.
General Information and Maps
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
June 1994
Accessed Date:
25 October 2012
Title:
Bulgarie. L'Encyclopédie en ligne.
Accessed Date:
25 October 2012
Title:
Bulgaria. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
18 August 2021
Accessed Date:
23 August 2021
Title:
III.4. Ethno-Demographic Characteristics of the Population. 2011 Population Census in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Source:
Bulgaria. National Statistical Institute.
Accessed Date:
24 October 2013
Title:
Poverty and Social Inclusion Indicators in 2020
Source:
Bulgaria. National Statistical Institute.
Date of Document:
28 April 2021
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
BTI 2020 Country Report — Bulgaria
Source:
Bertelsmann Stiftung
Accessed Date:
7 August 2020
Title:
Bulgarie. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde.
Source:
L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
Date of Document:
2 September 2020
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2018.
Source:
United States. Social Security Administration.
Date of Document:
September 2018
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Présentation de la Bulgarie
Source:
France. Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères.
Date of Document:
25 May 2021
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria: An Overview. In Focus.
Source:
United States. Congressional Research Service.
Date of Document:
21 June 2021
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2022.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
20 March 2023
Accessed Date:
1 August 2023
Title:
Bulgaria. Amnesty International Report 2020/21: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
7 April 2021
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Nations in Transit 2021.
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Freedom in the World 2021.
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Country report: Non-discrimination.
Source:
European Commission. Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers.
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
Report by Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, following her visit to Bulgaria, from 25 to 29 November 2019
Source:
Council of Europe. Commissioner for Human Rights.
Date of Document:
31 March 2020
Accessed Date:
7 August 2020
Title:
Comments of the Bulgarian Government to the report of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe following her visit to Bulgaria on 25-29 November 2019
Accessed Date:
7 August 2020
Title:
Human Rights in Bulgaria in 2019 (summary)
Source:
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Date of Document:
29 June 2020
Author:
Adela Katchaunova et al.
Accessed Date:
16 August 2021
Title:
ECRI Report on Bulgaria: fifth monitoring cycle
Source:
Council of Europe. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.
Date of Document:
16 September 2014
Accessed Date:
20 October 2015
Title:
Summary of Stakeholders' submissions on Bulgaria
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/36/BGR/3
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
17 February 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
ECRI Conclusions on the implementation of the recommendations in respect of Bulgaria subject to interim follow-up
Source:
Council of Europe. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.
Date of Document:
16 May 2017
Accessed Date:
14 November 2018
Title:
Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Bulgaria
Source:
United Nations. Committee against Torture.
Date of Document:
15 December 2017
Accessed Date:
14 November 2018
Title:
Bulgaria. Value-Based Conflicts in the Regions Between the Oder and the Danube.
Source:
Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia
Editor:
Dušan Ondrušek et al.
Accessed Date:
15 November 2019
Title:
National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 16/21 : Bulgaria
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/36/BGR/1
Date of Document:
13 February 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/36/BGR/2
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date of Document:
27 February 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
3.
Identification Documents and Citizenship
Title:
Bulgaria: New Law Allows Acquiring Citizenship in Exchange for Investments
Source:
Global Legal Monitor
Date of Document:
24 May 2021
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Issuing Process of Bulgarian Identity and Travel Documents and the Use of Biometrics
Source:
International Journal of Signal Processing
Author:
Dimitar Georgiev et al.
Accessed Date:
26 September 2017
Title:
Country Report: Bulgaria
Source:
European University Institute. European Union Democracy Observatory on Citizenship.
Date of Document:
May 2013
Author:
Daniel Smilov, Elena Jileva
Accessed Date:
24 October 2016
Title:
Bulgaria. Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 36th Session of the Universal Periodic Review.
Source:
Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion et al.
Date of Document:
3 October 2019
Accessed Date:
15 November 2019
4.
Political Activities and Organizations
Title:
Bulgaria. Election for President of 13 November 2016.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Bulgaria. Election forNarodno Sabranie(Bulgarian National Assembly) of 11 July 2021.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
Accessed Date:
23 August 2021
5.
Gender, Domestic Violence and Children
Title:
Bulgaria. Social Institutions and Gender Index 2019.
Source:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Date of Document:
7 December 2018
Accessed Date:
11 February 2019
Title:
Bulgaria. WAVE Country Report 2019: The Situation of Women's Specialist Support Services in Europe.
Source:
Women Against Violence Europe
Date of Document:
December 2019
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (amended 2015)
Accessed Date:
7 August 2020
Title:
Gender Equality Index 2020: Bulgaria
Source:
European Institute for Gender Equality
Date of Document:
28 October 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Country report: Gender equality.
Source:
European Commission. Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers.
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe and Central Asia 2021.
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. ILGA-Europe.
Date of Document:
February 2021
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Protecting LGBTQI rights in Europe
Source:
Transgender Europe et al.
Date of Document:
October 2018
Editor:
Mari-Liis Sepper et al.
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Bulgaria. Trans Legal Mapping Report 2019: Recognition before the law.
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
Date of Document:
September 2020
Author:
Zhan Chiam et al.
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Visit to Bulgaria. Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
Source:
United Nations. General Assembly.
Date of Document:
19 May 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
7.
Criminality and Corruption
Title:
Bulgaria: Tier 2. Trafficking in Persons Report 2021.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
1 July 2021
Accessed Date:
23 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. 2020 Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Date of Document:
2 June 2020
Accessed Date:
7 August 2020
Title:
Crimes and Persons Convicted 2019
Source:
Bulgaria. National Statistical Institute.
Date of Document:
20 October 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Country Reports on Terrorism 2019.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
24 June 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
8.
Military Service - (No items in this section)
9.
Judiciary, Legal and Penal Systems
Title:
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Progress in Bulgaria under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism
Code:
COM(2019) 498 final
Source:
European Commission
Date of Document:
22 October 2019
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Update: The Bulgarian Legal System and Legal Research
Date of Document:
September 2018
Author:
Venelin Dimitrov et al.
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Report to the Bulgarian Government on the visit to Bulgaria carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 10 to 17 December 2018
Source:
Council of Europe. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Date of Document:
11 July 2019
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Response of the Bulgarian Government to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) on its visit to Bulgaria from 10 to 17 December 2018
Date of Document:
11 July 2019
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Handbook on European law relating to access to justice
Source:
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights; Council of Europe
Date of Document:
January 2016
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Bulgaria Corruption Report
Source:
GAN. Risk & Compliance Portal.
Date of Document:
July 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
10.
Police and Security Forces
Title:
The Normative and Practical Obstacles to Effective Prosecution of Ill-Treatment by Official Persons
Source:
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Accessed Date:
8 November 2017
Title:
Bulgaria. The Law on Police Use of Force Worldwide.
Source:
University of Pretoria. Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa.
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Monitoring Media Pluralism in the Digital Era: Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor in the European Union, Albania and Turkey in the years 2018-2019. Country report: Bulgaria.
Source:
European University Institute. Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies.; The Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom
Date of Document:
July 2020
Author:
Orlin Spassov et al.
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. International Religious Freedom Report for 2020.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
12 May 2021
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Islamophobia in Bulgaria National Report 2019. European Islamophobia Report 2019.
Source:
Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research
Date of Document:
24 June 2020
Editor:
Enes Bayraklı; Farid Hafez
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
13.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Race
Title:
Scaling up Roma Inclusion strategies: Truth, reconciliation and justice for addressing antigypsyism
Source:
European Parliament. Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs.
Date of Document:
February 2019
Author:
Sergio Carrera et al.
Accessed Date:
6 November 2019
Title:
Written Submission by the European Roma Rights Centre Concerning Bulgaria to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, for Consideration at Its 92nd Session (24 April - 12 May 2017)
Source:
European Roma Rights Centre
Date of Document:
20 April 2017
Accessed Date:
26 September 2017
Title:
Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Third Opinion on Bulgaria Adopted on 11 February 2014.
Code:
ACFC/OP/III(2014)001
Source:
Council of Europe. Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
Date of Document:
30 July 2014
Accessed Date:
28 October 2014
Title:
Resolution CM/ResCMN(2018)2 on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by Bulgaria
Source:
Council of Europe. Committee of Ministers.
Date of Document:
7 February 2018
Accessed Date:
14 November 2018
Title:
Bulgaria. Roma Rights in the Time of COVID.
Source:
European Roma Rights Centre
Date of Document:
September 2020
Accessed Date:
18 September 2020
Title:
Violence against Roma, including by extremist groups; state protection and treatment by police (2013-October 2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
10 November 2015
Accessed Date:
24 November 2015
Title:
Situation of Roma, including access to employment, housing, healthcare, and education; state efforts to improve the conditions for Roma (2013-October 2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
2 November 2015
Accessed Date:
24 November 2015
Title:
Fourth Report submitted by Bulgaria pursuant to Article 25, paragraph 2 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
Code:
ACFC/SR/IV(2017)006
Date of Document:
7 December 2017
Accessed Date:
14 November 2018
Title:
Concluding observations on the combined twentieth to twenty-second periodic reports of Bulgaria
Code:
CERD/C/BGR/CO/20-22
Source:
United Nations. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Date of Document:
31 May 2017
Accessed Date:
26 September 2017
Title:
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention. Combined twentieth to twenty-second periodic reports of States parties due in 2014: Bulgaria.
Date of Document:
21 March 2016
Accessed Date:
26 September 2017
Title:
Memorandum to the European Commission: Violations of EU Law and Fundamental Rights by Bulgaria's Discriminatory Treatment of Roma in the Area of Housing
Source:
Open Society Foundations. Open Society European Policy Institute.
Date of Document:
February 2017
Accessed Date:
26 September 2017
Title:
Bulgaria: The Roma community that got trapped in a coal pit. Minority and Indigenous Trends 2019: Focus on climate justice.
Source:
Minority Rights Group International
Date of Document:
June 2019
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples.
Source:
Minority Rights Group International
Date of Document:
July 2018
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Bulgaria. Blighted Lives: Romani Children in State Care.
Source:
European Roma Rights Centre
Date of Document:
January 2021
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
EU citizenship, but no shoes: the Roma of Bulgaria
Date of Document:
20 January 2020
Author:
Yuliya Shyrokonis
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
14.
Exit/Entry and Freedom of Movement
Title:
European Union: Application of the Protocol on Asylum for Nationals of Member States of the European Union (2013-June 2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
9 July 2015
Accessed Date:
31 July 2015
Title:
European Union: Freedom of movement, residency and social security regulations for European Union (EU) nationals who move to other EU countries; the situation of Czech, Hungarian, and Slovak nationals who move to other EU countries, including...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
16 July 2015
Accessed Date:
31 July 2015
Title:
The Bulgarian Migration Paradox: Migration and Development in Bulgaria
Source:
Caritas. The MIND Project.
Date of Document:
May 2019
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
Title:
Country Report: Bulgaria
Source:
European Council on Refugees and Exiles. Asylum Information Database.
Date of Document:
31 December 2020
Accessed Date:
17 August 2021
15.
Labour, Employment and Unions - (No items in this section)
16.
Other - (No items in this section)
The following changes have been made to the previous package dated 31 May 2022:
Title:
Bulgaria. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2021.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
12 April 2022
URL:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/bulgaria
Accessed Date:
25 May 2022
Disclaimer
National Documentation Packages (NDPs) include country-of-origin information that is publicly accessible at the time of publication and available within time constraints. While the Research Directorate strives to maintain the
NDP with current information, the research is not exhaustive and country conditions can change rapidly. Members of the public are invited to
suggest documents they feel are relevant to the
NDP.
NDPs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the
NDPs are the responsibility of independent
IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
All sources are fully cited, including a hyperlink, to facilitate the location of the information. The
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NDP. It cannot guarantee or be responsible for:
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The information presented in
NDPs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the
IRB or the Government of Canada.