OGI E ROMENGO stands with a firm, categoric, and unambiguous position behind you

Brothers and sisters, our organization stands with a firm, categorical, and unequivocal position behind you and for the protection of your human rights! The systemic violations of the rights of the Roma community in Bulgaria are not isolated incidents, but a deeply rooted model of discrimination that requires an immediate and decisive response.

The cases we are witnessing speak for themselves. In 2025, in Sofia, the "Zaharna Fabrika" neighborhood, hundreds of people – families with children and the elderly – were left homeless after the demolition of homes without adequate protection and alternatives. Other serious instances of violence and humiliation are being reported in the country – including shocking cases of ethnically motivated aggression, such as throwing a child from a bridge, beatings, threats, and psychological harassment in Roma neighborhoods, as well as tension that is instilled during election campaigns.

These realities are compounded by everyday practices of segregation in education, lack of equal access to services, systematic neglect of infrastructure in Roma neighborhoods, and aggressive hate speech, including in public spaces and the media. All of this demonstrates not just gaps, but a refusal by institutions to guarantee equality and dignity.

In this context, we emphasize clearly that licensed Roma lawyers and highly qualified human rights defenders are actively working on these cases. These are our Roma experts with the capacity and expertise who understand the specifics of the Roma community. Their work is crucial for achieving real accountability and change. We are fighting for this.

Our position is that we can no longer rely solely on declarations and promises. Concrete actions are needed: the termination of segregation practices, guaranteeing the right to housing, effective investigations of violence and racism, as well as the real inclusion of the Roma community in decision-making processes.

Behind each of these cases are human destinies. Behind every statistic are people deprived of security, dignity, and justice.

We are working, together with legal experts from the Roma community, with our Roma mediators from across the country to ensure that these cases will not remain without consequences and that the principles of equality, dignity, and the rule of law will be effectively protected.