You have the right to receive toiletries that are necessary for the maintenance of your personal hygiene in prison.
According to Bulgarian law, prison administration must provide you with conditions for hair maintenance and shaving, as well as for maintenance of hand and feet hygiene.
What human rights violation may there be?
Prohibition against inhumane or degrading treatment
If you are unable to adequately maintain your hygiene due to a lack of toiletries, this may lead to a violation of the prohibition against inhumane or degrading treatment. However, the effect that such a situation leaves on your physical and mental condition would have to reach a certain minimum level of severity. Minor deviations will probably not lead to a violation.
example If your toothbrush is not changed for a month, it probably won’t lead to a violation of your rights. However, if you are forced to use the toilet without paper or other facilities for maintaining your hygiene, this will most probably violate your rights.
Read more about how to evaluate whether your rights have been violated.
How to complain
If you believe that your rights have been violated, you might complain to the prison administration, to the director of Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” or to the prosecutor. You might also submit a request for the termination of the violation or a claim for compensation of the damages suffered to the administrative court.
Read more about how to complain.