Information on whether a Plovdiv-based organization called the Foundation for Regional Development ROMA or Regional Development Roma Plovdiv issues certificates confirming a person's Roma ethnicity and Roma name (1997-2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 20 March 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR34095.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Information on whether a Plovdiv-based organization called the Foundation for Regional Development ROMA or Regional Development Roma Plovdiv issues certificates confirming a person's Roma ethnicity and Roma name (1997-2000), 20 March 2000, BGR34095.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad4c4c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Chair of the Foundation for Regional Development "ROMA" stated in 17 March 2000 correspondence to the Research Directorate:
ROMA consists only of people of a Romani origin. Being the first and the biggest Romani non-political organization, which keeps in contact with all other similar organizations in Bulgaria, we work for improving the social, educational, cultural, and economical situation of Bulgarian minorities, as well as for standing for people's rights.
Unfortunately, no document of the kind requested can be found in the National Archive. Instead, our organization can proceed with its own researches on a given person (if organizations or other people need those). After thorough work (which is possible because in towns and villages we live in closed societies) we can find out whether the person inspected does or does not belong to a Romani ethnic group or whether he is a member of a Romani organization. On this basis we can issue an authoritative statement of the ethnicity of the person (17 Mar. 2000).
No additional information could be found within the time constraints of this Response as to whether the certificates issued by the Foundation for Regional Development ROMA confirm the Roma name of its holder.
For general information on the organization, please refer to its website located at
There is no mention of "Regional Development Roma Plovdiv" in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Foundation for Regional Development "ROMA", Plovdiv. 17 March 2000. Correspondence from the Chair.
Sources Consulted
IRB databases
LEXIS/NEXIS
REFWORLD
Amnesty International
Resource Centre. Bulgaria country file. January 1999 - present.
One oral source contacted.
Internet sources, including:
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Bulgaria News Agency (BTA)
Centre for Civil Society International
Centre for Research on Ethnic Relations (CRER)
Derechos - Human Rights Website
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC)
Human Rights Watch
International Helsinki Human Rights Federation (IHF)
Keesing's
Kupate, the Roma Umbrella Assembly in Bulgaria
Minorities At Risk
Minority Rights Group International
News.Bg
Non-Governmental Organizations in Bulgaria
Obektiv
Open Society Foundation
OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues
Patrin
Project on Ethnic Relations (PER)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
RomaRights
Roma Organisationen
Romnews
Transitions
Union of Bulgarian Foundations and Associations
World News Connection (WNC)