Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva successfully defended the reaccreditation of the national human rights institution with the highest possible status “A” according to the Paris Principles. This was announced by the Ombudsman's institution, stating that they have received an official letter from the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI).
The decision was made at the session of the United Nations (UN) Subcommittee on Accreditation (SCA). Delcheva defended the reaccreditation after a hearing before a commission in Geneva in October.
Status “A” means that the institution meets the highest international standards for independence, impartiality, pluralism, transparency and the widest possible mandate in the protection and promotion of human rights and certifies the full compliance of the institution with the Paris Principles.
The UN Subcommittee has noted that the legal provision, according to which the ombudsman or deputy ombudsman can assume the functions of a caretaker prime minister, may affect the reputation and actual independence of the institution. The Subcommittee has recommended that the ombudsman advocate for amendments to the Constitution and the Ombudsman Act to remove the provision.
Accreditation with status “A” allows the institution to highlight issues of national importance before international human rights forums and to participate in the formation of international policies and standards in the field of human rights. The ombudsman can participate in the work of the UN human rights committees and in the Human Rights Council.
ENNHRI highly values the professionalism of the ombudsman's team and expresses confidence that the reaccreditation will contribute to an even stronger protection of human rights in Bulgaria. The European Network has expressed its readiness to support the institution in the implementation of the Subcommittee's recommendations and in its future international cooperation.
The institution was accredited with status “B” in 2005. In 2011, the international organization made recommendations to strengthen its independence and expand its mandate. In March 2019, the Bulgarian ombudsman received the highest “A” status for the first time.
For the period from January 1 to mid-December 2025, more than 10,000 complaints and signals have been received by the Ombudsman's institution.