site.btaCabinet Envisages Opening 453 More Places in Crisis Centres for Victims of Violence

An additional 453 places will be opened in crisis centres for victims of violence, it transpired at a meeting with Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov. The meeting reported on the work done on the measures to combat aggression and violence, which were outlined a month ago, the press office of the Council of Ministers said on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel, who chairs the National Council for Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence, Ministers of Labour and Social Policy Ivanka Shalapatova and of the Interior Kalin Stoyanov, Deputy Ministers of Education and Science Emilia Lazarova and of Justice Georgi Nikolov.

The state will financially support the activities of four more crisis centres. Starting next month, money from the budget will go to crisis centres in Yambol and in the Meden Rudnik housing complex in Burgas. Their capacity is 12 and 15 places respectively. By the end of this year, a new crisis centre will be opened in Samuil, Razgrad district, where 15 victims of violence can seek support. With state funding, the capacity of the crisis centre in Pernik will be increased from 16 to 40 places.

Bulgaria’s crisis centres can currently accommodate 321 victims. The aim is to increase the total capacity to 774 places - for 479 children and 295 adults, Minister Shalapatova said.

Initial and adequate response to cases of violence is most important, Minister Stoyanov stressed. The Ministry of Interior is already preparing new methodological guidelines for the actions of police authorities under the Protection against Domestic Violence Act, with detailed mechanisms for action at each stage from receiving the signal, visiting the place, talking to victims, working with perpetrators, etc. According to the Minister of Interior, there has been a significant increase in domestic violence cases and a steady increase in pre-trial proceedings initiated compared to last year. An analysis of the causes will be made.

The training of 40 pedagogical specialists from the regional centres for inclusive education has already started, who will provide methodological support for the prevention of violence and bullying in schools. Twenty psychologists from the national mobile group for psychological support of the Ministry of Education and Science are also being trained. They will work in the field of cyber security and against violence on the Internet.

The Ministry of Justice is working on expanding free legal advice for victims of violence. It is also discussing increasing the opening hours of the national primary legal helpline, which the Ministry maintains.