A survey conducted among young people showed what they think about human rights, how they perceive the situation in Bulgaria, where they get information about their rights and how they assess the role of the state to protect the rights of citizens.

More than 750 young people responded to our call to fill online questionnaire. In addition, in November and December 2019 Partners Bulgaria Foundation conducted 4 focus groups with young people from Varshets, Montana, G.Delchev and Blagoevgrad in order to assess how young people understand human rights and what they think about human rights in the country. A total of 49 school children and university students participated in the focus groups. The topics of discussion included understanding of human rights, sources of information on human rights and cases of human rights violations.

Most young people are aware of what human rights are and understand their universality. They are able to list fundamental rights: the right to vote, the right to be elected, freedom of expression, the right to life, the right to education and work, the right to associate, the right to participate in coalitions and parties, the right to a clean environment. Students learn about human rights from subjects such as history, ethics and law. Television, internet, news sites, books, family and friends are also popular sources of information.

Although human rights are important and enshrined in our constitution, young people believe that there are many barriers to their upholding.

‘We see that there is censorship on free speech, for example, on the national television and in the newspapers.’ (a Montana student).

‘Human rights are available on paper, but the reality is another thing.’ (student from Gotse Delchev).

‘Even if we try to claim our rights or do something about it, if the person against us has more power, we are nothing.’ (student from Blagoevgrad).

 ‘Many of us have heard about fake ballots and votes, which automatically leads us to believe that the citizens’ right to vote and participate in elections is being violated.’ (student from Varshets)

Young people agree that it is the state that must respect human rights. For young people all rights are important, but they are particularly concerned about the right to education and the right to work. ‘It is not normal parents to violate the right to education of children’, says a student from Gotse Delchev.

Most students believe they need to be more aware because ‘people are not informed enough about their rights in order to assert and defend them.’

The text of the report can be downloaded here:  Report_EN_web_final