1,000 held in metal containers, tents and dilapidated buildings at former military base

The Bulgarian authorities must do more to prevent xenophobic hate crimes, Amnesty International urged today amid a rise in racist attacks that has left migrants living in fear.

Amnesty International has accused the European Union and its member states of failing to tackle homophobic and transphobic hate crimes and to protect the continent’s citizens from discrimination, harassment and violence. The conclusions are included in a new hard-hitting Amnesty report. The 16-page report, Because of who I am: Homophobia, transphobia and hate crime in Europe , highlights gaps in the legislation of many European countries where sexual orientation and gender identity are not explicitly included as grounds on which hate crimes can be perpetrated. The report also points out the

The report also highlights the care homes’ lack of medical and psychiatric care, poor living conditions, inadequate staffing and the failure to provide activities, therapies or opportunities for reintegration into the community.The report examines the former residents of the Dragash Voyvoda care home. Amnesty International’s delegates first visited Dragash Voyvoda in January 2002 and established that in 2001 one in five residents in this social care home, which held around 140 men, died apparently as a result of poor living conditions, inadequate medical treatment and care. Residents were