The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee ceases its legal aid programme for refugees and migrants

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The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) informed that, on its 30th anniversary, the programme for legal protection of refuges and migrants will cease as of 1st January 2026 due to the global crisis in the funding of international humanitarian agencies. UNHCR has been the primary partner of the BHC Refugee Programme since 1994, also financially supporting the work of the legal aid office for refugees.

Overall, in the last three decades, the office provided legal assistance to a total of 209,703 refugees and legal representation in court in 3,326 cases. 

BHC announced that, while continuing efforts to restore the programme, they will provide advice and support in selected individual cases concerning human rights violations and breach of the right to asylum.

 

Source(s)
  • Bulgarian Helsinki Committee | Български хелзинкски комитет (12 January, 2026), Приемната на БХК за правна помощ на бежанци и мигранти преустанови дейността си на 1 януари 2026 г. [The BHC Legal Aid Reception for Refugees and Migrants ceased its operation on 1 January 2026],
    https://bghelsinki.org/en/20260112-legal-protection-refugees-and-migrants/