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During January and February this year Human Rights Project (HRP) received
a lot of reports from all over the country that Roma are not allowed to
enter restaurants, bars and cafe.
On 26th of January Roma from the town of Samokov informed HRP about racial
actions regarding the access of Roma people into public restaurants and
cafeteria.
Representatives from the organization checked the situation there. HRP
staff established that Roma people are not allowed to get into the restaurants
and the cafes by the staff because of different reasons. In the Perla
bar, near the bus station, Roma were told that the cafe would be closed
for a lunch break. Later on in Confectioners shop, named Luchano, based
on Ivan Vazov street Roma were driven away with the explanation that this
place is only with members cards. In the last of all bars, named Nichi,
based on Turgovska street Roma were sent off because the table had been
reserved.
After the visit of HRP team it turned to be clear that the above mentioned
reasons for not allowing Roma in the bars and restaurants are not the
real truth.
The personnel of the bars and the restaurants were asked by the HRP representatives
to explain their behavior and they explained that their bosses had ordered
them not to allow Roma inside.
Human Rights Project found that the all actions towards Roma are a discrimination
act based on ethnic origin and are against all national and international
documents which are in use in our country.
HRP got information about similar actions in the regions of the following
towns in Bulgaria: Shoumen, Vidin and Peshtera. The research missions
made by HRP show that all the actions are based on the fact that the people
are with Roma origin. The personnel of these PUBLIC bars and restaurants
are instructed previously not to allow Roma to get in.
Considering the researches made by HRP team, it turns to be clear that
the number of such cases has largely increased and it is based on increasing
ethnic intolerance and discrimination towards Roma.
Among other core reasons we have to underline that the existing legal
system in Bulgaria does not protect the victims of such actions.
Regardless of all signals, which were sent by HRP to the regional municipalities
and central autorities, nothing has been done to eliminate these actions.
HRP appeals The National Acembly, The Council of Ministers, The National
Council for Ethnic and Demographic Issues, ministries and municipalities
to take any legal and administrative actions to make known the unequal
treatment when using social services as actions against the law as well
as to provide effective and available measures which will protect the
rights of people who are victims of such actions.
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