Roma Policy Lab

Publications and analyses

Report: Combatting discrimination through enhanced access to justice in Croatia and Bulgaria

In Bulgaria and Croatia, Roma routinely experience discrimination, usually fuelled by negative attitudes and prejudices, in a variety of areas of their lives from an early age. Despite the high number of well documented occurrences, incidents of discrimination typically go unreported. Roma often think that it is not worth reporting their case as it would not change anything, while others fear that the situation would only become worse. See more.

Final version of the thematic report “Key Indicators for Social Inclusion and Fundamental Rights in Bulgaria”

The formulation of adequate policies at all levels of governance requires precise examination of the social and economic context in which the risks of poverty, social inclusion and violation of fundamental rights can materialize. The Bulgarian National Statistical Institute presents the final version of the thematic report “Key Indicators for Social Inclusion and Fundamental Rights in Bulgaria“.

Domestic and gender-based violence in Bulgaria. Methodology for Monitoring Policy and Institutional Practice

This publication is an analysis of the practical application, implementation, and evaluation of concrete legal, strategic, and policy measures set to counter the phenomenon of gender based and domestic violence in Bulgaria. Consequently, it shows how data, statistics and insights collected with respect to these types of violence could be interpreted and put into context. Ultimately, the methodology is intended to serve as a useful tool for experts, helping them identify and define acute challenges, key areas for improvement, as well as existing best practices.

Roma Early Childhood Inclusion in Bulgaria (RECI+) 

The Roma Early Childhood Inclusion in Bulgaria (RECI+) report has been prepared by Foundation Open Society Institute – Sofia and focuses on the situation in education and care, healthcare and social services for the Bulgarian children of Roma ethnicity aged 0 to 8. The report was drafted at the initiative and with the support of Open Society Foundations, the Roma Education Fund and UNICEF and is part of a series of similar surveys conducted in the countries from Central and Eastern Europe.

Bridging the gap between Roma youth and business – unlocking the hidden potential for the labor market

The notion that Roma do not work has long been disproved by the trends in the labor market in Bulgaria. The data for this is there: between 2011 and 2019, the share of working Roma has doubled. This is shown by a nationally representative study from 2019 ocommissioned by the Trust for a Social Achievement, dedicated to educational achievements in the Roma community.

How It Started, How It is Going: Media Literacy Index 2022

The Media Literacy Index is produced within the European Policies Initiative (EuPI) of the Open Society Institute – Sofia. The index assesses the resilience potential to fake news in 41 European countries, using indicators for media freedom, education and trust in people. As the indicators have different importance, they are assigned different weight in the model.

Publication: Roma in Bulgaria

Anyone who has tried to research, write or think about the situation of the Roma in Bulgaria has come across an increasing amount of information, which is often fragmented and contradictory. How many and...