UNICEF

site.btaIn Bulgaria, One in Two Children Victim of Violence

In Bulgaria, One in Two Children Victim of Violence
In Bulgaria, One in Two Children Victim of Violence
A snapshot of UNICEF's press conference on June 6, 2023 (BTA Photo)

UNICEF Representative in Bulgaria Christina de Bruin shared at a press conference here on Tuesday data from a nationally representative survey, according to which one in two Bulgarian children has been subjected to some form of violence. The press conference presented the work of the Zona ZaKrila Child Advocacy and Support Centre in Sofia.

The event was attended by Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, the Executive Director of the Animus Foundation Maria Chomarova and the Director of UNICEF's Child Protection Programme Dani Koleva.

Emotional abuse is the most common type of abuse among children and young people in Bulgaria with 45.9%, followed by physical abuse with 31.2%, sexual abuse with 15.6% and neglect with 10.5%.

De Bruin said: "We at UNICEF are convinced that the solution is prevention. We work in schools, we develop programmes to support victims of violence such as STEPs Together, and Zona ZaKrila is a special place". This is the third support centre in Bulgaria after the ones in Montana and Shumen.

Since the first support centre was unveiled in Bulgaria more than a decade ago, more than 3,000 children and families have been assisted.

UNICEF is conducting a campaign to raise funds for the construction of similar centres in Yambol, Kyustendil and Varna, Koleva said. She pointed to the need for a multidisciplinary approach to meet the needs of victims of violence.

Funding for the Zona ZaKrila Centre in Sofia is covered by the Sofia Municipality. There are five crisis centres for women and children who have suffered violence in Sofia Municipality, with 220 people capacity, Fandakova said.

/DS/

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By 08:34 on 29.03.2024 Today`s news

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