The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid Markus Löning is due to visit Bulgaria from 16 to 20 January 2013.

The trip will serve to intensify cooperation in the field of human rights policy.

Mr Löning is scheduled to meet with representatives of the National Council for Ethnic and Integration Affairs, the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Director for Human Rights at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will also have talks with members of the parliamentary committees for cultural affairs, civil society and the media, as well as for human rights, religious affairs, citizens’ complaints and petitions. Moreover, Mr Löning is scheduled to meet the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Chairman of the National Agency for Refugees, as well as representatives of several NGOs and human rights activists. He will also visit a Roma neighbourhood and a Roma integration school and talk to members of the Romani Bach Foundation.