The Roma people are the second biggest minority in Bulgaria after the Turks. There are 370 908 Roma in Bulgaria according to the latest census in 2001. However, this number may not be entirely correct because, as a Bulgarian journalist points out, many of them,especially those who speak Turkish and follow Islam, consider themselves Turks. According to official data, prepared by the MAR Project, the Roma population "is spread out evenly across the territory of Bulgaria, without any region of high density". Generally, they live in the villages or the outskirts of cities. So, the Roma in Bulgaria occupy a marginal position, but not only physically...

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Female genital mutilation refers to the removal of part, or all, of the female genitalia.Different types of mutilation are practised, depending on the girl's ethnic background and the country she lives in. The age, at which the procedure is carried out, also varies. According to a report, prepared by Amnesty International, FGM most commonly occurs between the ages of four and eight. However, the WHO points out that the average age is falling. The geographical distribution of FGM is not less striking.