From 16 to 18 March 2026, nearly 70 police officers across Bulgaria participated in a training on policing hate crimes against LGBTI persons, organised by the LGBTI organisation Deystvie in partnership with the SOGIESC Unit of the Council of Europe, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior, and the Embassy of the United Kingdom. The event systematically applied the Council of Europe's updated manual "Policing Hate Crime against LGBTI Persons: training for a professional police response”, equipping officers with tools and standards for a professional, victim-cantered response. The manual is now also available in Bulgarian!

Over three days, participants engaged in lectures, case studies, and interactive sessions focused on legal frameworks, community engagement, operational response, and judicial standards. Experts from Bulgaria and the UK shared best practices, emphasising victim support and avoidance of procedural errors.

The initiative marks a major step toward institutionalising a human rights-based police response to SOGIESC-based hate crimes and enhances cooperation between law enforcement, judiciary, and civil society for improved victim protection across Bulgaria.