Disability in Bulgaria

Bulgaria launches new disability support programme, providing high-tech assistive devices. “NGOs are calling for broader access and long-term sustainability.” (May, Euractiv)

In Memoriam: Vanya Pandieva “Vanya was one of the pioneers of the independent living movement in Bulgaria.” (2023, ENIL)

Memorial to Kapka Panayotova – a great Independent Living activist (2021, Disability Defenders Network Newsletter)

Overview

Towards Dignity and Autonomy a report on personal assistance policies across nine countries. (2024, ENIL and ILO)

Conditions in Institutions

Woman with Lived Experience of Institutionalisation Wins Landmark Case Against Psychiatric Hospital in Bulgaria:

“On 23 April 2025, a district court in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, awarded substantial damages to Tanya Petkova, a woman with psychosocial disabilities, for repeated periods of psychiatric detention and coercive practices violating her dignity and autonomy and for the trauma inflicted upon her. The decision is a rare judicial acknowledgment of the impacts of intersecting discrimination on the bases of disability and gender, in alignment with international human rights law. The court awarded her BGN 15,000 (approx. 7000 Euros) for non-pecuniary damages.” (Jun, Validity.ngo)

“Poor her, for having dreams.” Monitoring report on torture and ill-treatment of persons with disabilities:

“The findings of this report show that although Bulgarian institutional settings vary in size and name, institutional culture prevails in all types of institutions, including small group homes” (2024, Validity Foundation)

Joint statement: Stop funding institutions in Bulgaria! (2023, EDF)

Ending violence, ensuring inclusion: strengthening protections against gender-and disability-based violence. Research in Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, and Slovakia:

“Violence is common in institutional settings, although they are often normalised, concealed and unreported, due to inadequate staff training, staff shortages, lack of appropriate complaint procedures and overcrowding.” (Feb, Validity Foundation )