On 29 August 2025, “Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria” (CLA) through the advocacy officer Desislava Todorova participated in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Info Pre-sessions at the United Nations in Geneva regarding the human rights situation in Bulgaria.
The UPR is one of the most important global mechanisms for human rights under the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), taking place for each UN Member state every 4-5 years. The Bulgarian panel addressed the vital issues of child poverty and children’s access to social services, Roma’s fundamental rights and the situation of migrants and asylum seekers in Bulgaria.
CLA was the only organization represented at the panel with exclusive focus on migrants’ rights, addressing migrants’ situation at the borders, immigration detention and integration policies with focus on the growing need for regularization alternatives for long-term undocumented migrants.
In her final note, Desislava reminded the room that the 1951 Refugee Convention was adopted at that very place in Geneva, not as a performative act, but as strong legal and political agenda for creating sustainable, human rights conform and secure migration management.
