On 6 June 2024, Seda Kuzuju, the UNHCR representative in Bulgaria, visited the Commission for the Protection of Refugees from Discrimination. She was accompanied by Byulent Peker, Deputy Representative and Head of Protection, Ekaterina Dimitrova, Government Liaison Officer, Mikhail Mukhlov, Government Liaison and External Relations Intern.
On behalf of the CPD the meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Ana Dzhumalieva - Chairperson of the CPD, Prof. Dr. Baki Husseinov - Deputy Chairperson of the CPD, Prof. Dr. Nadezhda Yonkova - Secretary General of the CPD, Robert Djerassi - Chairperson of the National Council of Religious Communities in Bulgaria and Advisor to the CPD, Radoslava Mechkyurova - Junior Expert at the SPAP Directorate, and Georgi Genchev - Senior Specialist at the APMS Department.
The guests were introduced to the main functions and powers of the CPD, the election of its members, the specifics of its proceedings and the network of regional representatives. Attention was drawn to the Commission\'s preventive work as an important success factor in the fight against discrimination. Complaints to the CPD related to refugees were pointed out.
Ms. Seda Kuzuju presented the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bulgaria, highlighting the 6 Community Refugee Centres established in Bulgaria, the care for unaccompanied refugee children, the care and assistance for refugees with disabilities.
In the discussions it was agreed that an appropriate form of partnership between the two institutions could be implemented in order to develop the preventive work of the CPD in relation to the vulnerable group of refugees and migrants.
The Chairperson of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, Prof. Dr. Ana Dzhumalieva, presented Ms. Seda Kuzuju with a plaque of honour of the CPD.
The guests also visited the meeting room of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination.
