The US Department of State Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour released its annual human rights report for 2005. The report discusses human rights practices in 196 countries.

Minority discrimination problems persist in Bulgaria, as well as in other countries. Discriminatory practices also affect women, children and people with disabilities in the country.

Poor prison conditions also figure among the criticisms in the report. Prisons in Bulgaria are crowded, lack proper ventilation and lightning. Such conditions are considered inhumane according to international standards.

The number of prisoners in Bulgaria reached 11 324 people. They serve their sentences in 12 prisons throughout the country. The report says the number of detained people exceeds three times the capacity of the prisons.

Bulgaria's Parliament needs to exercise tighter control over the police and the judicial system, as both do not face penalties for violations, the report says.

The freedom of press in Bulgaria is relatively observed. The Bulgarian news agency and the national radio are presented as the most objective information sources.

The report lists various violations of women rights in Bulgaria. According to data of the Bulgarian police one out of every four women is the victim of domestic violence. Nearly 40 per cent of the women in Bulgaria experience sexual harassment in the workplace.

Children rights also pose a problem. The report states exploitation of child labour occurs in the country. Nearly 14 per cent of the Bulgarian children aged five to 17 work. Most of them do not take part in a family business.