URGENT ACTION: Romani Families Remain at Risk of Forced Eviction

124 Romani households in Kremikovtzi neighbourhood, Gurmen municipality, are at risk of forced eviction and have received demolition orders. The orders have not been accompanied by genuine consultation with the affected community to identify all feasible alternatives to the planned evictions and adequate resettlement options. 22 Romani families - 118 people, including 1 pregnant woman and two disabled children, one of whom is paralyzed - are at imminent risk of forced eviction on 31 August. Eight houses have already been demolished on 29 June (four by the Bulgarian authorities and four reportedly by people themselves under the threat of fines) and at least 16 people have been rendered homeless. 80 other households have demolition orders awaiting execution. For the remaining 14 households new eviction procedures are going to be initiated.

In response to Amnesty International’s Urgent Action issued on 30 July, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works stated that demolitions of Romani households will be enforced and that the Gurmen municipality “must ensure housing and accommodation of residents of illegal buildings and their families in appropriate living and healthy conditions”. However, according to statements of the mayor of Gurmen in a meeting with Amnesty International and according to previous communication from the Bulgarian authorities, the municipality does not have any social housing available for the affected families and any alternatives provided would be temporary. Following the evictions in June, Amnesty International was informed by NGOs working with the community and members of the community themselves that the only alternative housing option proposed to people evicted involved placement of parents in emergency shelters whilst children would be placed in childcare institutions (separating them from their parents).

Despite the Bulgarian Constitution recognising the right to housing as a fundamental right, Bulgaria’s housing legislation does not explicitly prohibit forced evictions nor establishes safeguards in line with international human rights standards which must be complied with before an eviction is carried out. Several other cases of forced evictions of Roma from informal settlements have been reported by Bulgarian media and NGOs in the past years.

Please write immediately in English or your own language:

• ν Urging local authorities to provide the eight families whose houses have been demolished with adequate alternative housing and compensation for their losses; 
• ν Urging the authorities to engage, prior to any eviction, in meaningful consultations with the remaining families at risk, to explore all feasible alternatives to the planned evictions and resettlement options, including the provision of adequate alternative housing, in accordance with international human rights standards;
• ν Calling on the Bulgarian authorities to adopt a law prohibiting forced evictions and ensure that lawful evictions are carried out in accordance with international standards.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 OCTOBER 2015 TO:

Minister of Regional Development

Lilyana Pavlova 

Kiril I Metodii Street No. 17 – 19

Sofia, Bulgaria

Fax: + 359 29 87 25 17

Email: e-mrrb@mrrb.government.bg 

Salutation: Dear Minister 

Regional Governor

Biser Mihaylov

Georgi Izmirliev Street, No. 9

Blagoevgrad 2700, Bulgaria

Fax: + 359 73 88 14 03

Email: info@bl.government.bg

Salutation: Dear Governor

And copies to:

Mayor of Gurmen

Minka Kapitanova

Gurmen Village, No. 35 “Purva” Str

2960, Blagoevgrad región, Bulgaria

Fax: + 359 75 23 31 79

Email: obs_garmen@bitex 

Salutation: Dear Mayor

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:

Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 169/15. Further information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur15/2199/2015/en/

Source: Amnesty International