In 2012, the Sociological Program focused on the following key topics: integration of
migrants and vulnerable groups, protection of human rights and evaluation of public
policies.
2012 Highlights
- Policies for the integration of of migrants and vulnerable groups: Throughout the
past year the Sociological Program continued its work in the fields of migration
and integration by coordinating research projects at the national and European
levels. The program established methods and indicators to assess the results and
impacts of different policies for integration of migrants and other vulnerable groups.
Special attention was paid to current victim assistance programs and the degree of
sustainable reintegration in society of child victims of trafficking in both source and
destination countries.
- The Sociological Program began a research on the causes of destitution and homelessness
among migrants, with a focus on the Bulgarian Roma migrant community
in Italy and France.
- The Sociological Program continued its research on social inclusion/exclusion of
the traditional ethnic minorities in the country. Pending study on the health status
of Bulgaria’s Roma minority will identify inequalities and explanatory factors as
well as mechanisms for data collection and monitoring as part of EU 27 research on
Roma health.
- Promoting and protecting human rights:. The Sociological Program applied
qualitative and quantitative methods in studying human rights awareness and
discrimination practices among police officers. The impact of human rights training
was assessed in three regions in Bulgaria.
- Prevention of Internet bullying behaviour:. The Sociological program, together
with the Bulgarian Safer Internet Center (SIC) continued their work to help young
people, school teachers, counsellors and parents in identifying the danger and risk
associated with harassment and violent behaviour on the Internet. Teachers and
students from various schools in the country were trained to recognize the risk of
cyberbullying.
- Evaluation of public policies and programs. The Sociological Program enhanced
its capacity to develop methods and indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of
public policies in several key fields, such as migration and integration, justice and
home affairs, and violence against children.
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