Intolerable living conditions in Bulgaria

Concerning R.A.A and Z.M (represented by Hannah Krog) vs Denmark for violation of articles 7 of CCPR.

The authors are a Syrian couple who entered Bulgaria in 2014. Although they were granted refugee status there, they were not offered any assistance: they struggled to find accommodation and they had no access to medical care or schooling. Thus they fled to Denmark and applied for asylum.

The Danish authorities rejected the authors’ asylum application as they considered that refusing residence to an alien was permitted if the applicant had obtained protection in another country. Thus a complaint was sent to CCPR.
The Committee considers, that the State party’s conclusion did not adequately take into account the information provided by the authors, that despite being granted a residence permit in Bulgaria, they faced intolerable living conditions there. Thus the committee is of the view that the deportation of the authors and their child to Bulgaria would violate their rights.

22. July 2021

CCPR 2608/2015
  • Decision: 29. December 2016
  • Comm: Human Rights