Predefined project: Human rights protection and further development of necessary skills and knowledge of police officers, especially those working in multi-ethnic environment, including Roma communities

Name of the Project: Human rights protection and further development of necessary skills and knowledge of police officers, especially those working in multi-ethnic environment, including Roma communities

Contract signed: № 812108-23/02.10.2014

The project will be implemented by the Academy of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in partnership with Council of Europe. 

The budget of the project comes to 445  986,23 Euro, 66897, 93 Euro of which are national co-financing. The project shall be implemented up to 30.04.2016.

The overall goal is to prevent and reduce the incidents of violation of human rights by the police while acting in a multi-ethnic environment, with special focus on the Roma population - and to enhance the police services skills to adhere to human rights while using force, auxiliary means, and firearms.

Main activities:

- a baseline study and analysis of the legislation in the Republic of Bulgaria on the topic, which will be conducted by representatives of the Academy of MoI and the Council of Europe experts.

- development of two training curricula (initial and in-service training course) on the legitimate and proportionate use of force, auxiliary means, and firearms in compliance with human rights based policing and a guideline (manual) for future and current police officers regarding the understanding of the preventive mechanisms of using force and working in a multi-ethnic environment.

- renovation of and the provision of equipment for six training auditorium rooms and where these topics will be taught.

- training of trainers. At first, there will be two courses for 20 officers each (40 police officers in total), which will be provided at the Academy of MoI. Later on, each trainer will conduct in-service training of 40 police officers (1600 in total).

- acquainting the police officers (including high ranking police officers) with knowledge about Roma community (e.g. on Roma history, culture, values etc.) and preventing the stereotypes against Roma.