Countries criticized over trafficking people

The government passed the Law on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, which criminalizes trafficking and provides comprehensive victim assistance. Still, the government should vigorously implement the new legislation, and strengthen its efforts on prevention.

The report says that mainly women and girls are trafficked from Bulgaria for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Bulgarian victims are trafficked to 12 countries across Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe.

Women and girls of the Roma minority continue to be disproportionately represented among Bulgarian-origin victims. Victims are trafficked to Bulgaria from Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Russia, and Uzbekistan.