People have a good number of legal and constitutional rights that they are unaware of. Not knowing them can lead to a lot of missed opportunities or various forms of abuse and breach of individual freedoms. That is why you it is so important for everyone to be well informed of their legal rights. 

The Safety zone in RRC Sofia – Ovcha Kupel is one of the places where the IOM Bulgaria experts provide the so necessary legal support to third country nationals.  

From the beginning of 2022, IOM Bulgaria's legal experts have provided legal advice to over 2,700 third-country nationals - the largest number coming from the two most war-affected countries in the Middle East - 47% are citizens of Afghanistan and 40% are citizens of Syria . Among them there is also a significant number of vulnerable persons - 22% of all registered persons are unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors. 

The consultations explain to the beneficiaries the individual steps of the procedure for granting international protection, their rights and obligations during and after the procedure, the possibilities for family reunification, as well as providing legal advice on administrative and labour law issues. 

Since the beginning of the project in 2018. so far, such consultations have been conducted with over 8,000 beneficiaries. 

These activities are implemented within the framework of the project “Legal counselling and interpretation services for asylum seekers in Bulgaria” funded by the National Program of Bulgaria under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020. 

The Safety zones are managed within the framework of the project "“Support for asylum seekers in Bulgaria” funded by the National Program of Bulgaria under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020.