site.btaHigh Commissioner for Human Rights Expresses Concern over Bulgarian Legal Ban on Propaganda of Non-traditional Sexual Orientation

"We are deeply concerned by the signing into law of a legislative amendment in Bulgaria prohibiting discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and urge for it to be reconsidered in line with the country’s international human rights obligations," UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Liz Throssell commented on Friday. "Addressing stigma and disinformation is critical to promoting acceptance and tolerance, and to building inclusive societies that respect and uphold the human rights of all," Throssell pointed out.

"The new amendment, coming at a time when 82% of LGBT individuals in Bulgaria report having been bullied at school, will only serve to deepen human rights violations against LGBT people and bullying and harassment in schools. It also flies in the face of Bulgaria’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights treaty commitments to ensure equality, non-discrimination and freedom of expression," the comment reads.

"It is crucial that the Bulgarian authorities take urgent steps to prevent and combat violence, discrimination and bullying, particularly against LGBT youth and within the education system," the Spokesperson said.

On August 7, Bulgaria's National Assembly amended the Pre-school and School Education Act banning any "propaganda, popularization or instigation in any way whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly, in the educational system of any ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identification otherwise than according to the biological sex" and defining "non-traditional sexual orientation" as "notions of emotional, romantic, sexual, sensual attraction of persons of opposite sexes that are different from such notions as commonly accepted and established in the Bulgarian legal tradition". The law was gazetted on August 16 under a decree signed by President Rumen Radev.

On August 12, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty, urged President Radev not to sign the ban on "propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation". The Commissioner also called on the Bulgarian authorities to tackle the discrimination of LGBTQ people.