The purpose of the paper is to give a brief overview of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950, as well as to focus on the human rights' protection in Bulgaria on the basis of the analysis of the decisions of the European Court on Human Rights against it. Bulgaria is a member of the Council of Europe since 1992, and has ratified the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and its 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th Protocols. Its new democratic Constitution of 1991 provides for direct applicability of the norms of the Convention. The recent years have shown positive results of Bulgaria's efforts in reaching the necessary standards of human rights protection. Decisions of the European Court on Human Rights against Bulgaria have brought about amendments in the national law and change in the legal practice related to human rights. Since Bulgaria has already initiated negotiations for joining the European Union, it is of a great importance for the country to ensure the protection of human rights - the last being one of the criteria for admission.