site.btaConference on Domestic Violence against Women with Disabilities Takes Place on Friday

At a conference, titled "Crimes and Violence against Women with Disabilities", Nadia Petrova, from the Economic Police Department at the National Police General Directorate, said that crimes involving violence against women, children, men and people with disabilities are serious crimes, but victims often don't realize it.  The event was organized by the Psychological Centre for Research on Friday.

A victim's dependence on the abuser can be financial and psychological. People with disabilities are especially at risk, as they have no external social contacts, have problems with movement, lack awareness, commented Petrova.

In 2022, 736 cases of domestic violence were registered. However, there are no statistics on gender, Petrova pointed out. She added that ten of the cases involved people with disabilities. According to the data reported by Petrova, there were 542 cases of violence against children and a total of 188 against women.

Petrova informed that the Economic Police Department at the National Police General Directorate has recently designated a specific unit for victims of violence, directly subordinate to the director. Currently, this unit consists of four employees.

Ivelina Ruskova from the Bulgarian-Turkish Women's Business Club commented that violence against women is becoming more and more widespread. She pointed out that the subject is only discussed when the situation escalates, and added that women with disabilities are often overlooked or mocked for their inability to be mothers.

The Psychological Centre for Research expressed readiness to collect and present its proposals regarding a directive on the rights of victims of violence, which is at the stage of consideration, explained Diana Indjova, the Centre's President.

The directive is not always applicable to the current situation in each country, commented Parliamentary Committee on Children, Family, Youth and Sport Chair Nebie Kabak, MP from the Movement of Rights and Freedoms. She argued that there should be no literal translation of the directive.

The Protection Against Domestic Violence Act is one of the most frequently changed, Kabak noted. "I think there are still many loopholes in the law. Unfortunately, a register of victims has not yet been introduced in Bulgaria," she also pointed out.