site.btaUPDATED Center for the Study of Democracy Organizes Conference on Counteracting Domestic Violence

The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), the Institute of Public Administration and Demetra Association organized on Tuesday a conference on counteracting domestic violence.

Bulgarian politicians have not used public energy to take action on the issue of domestic violence, pointed out CSD’s Programme Director Ruslan Stefanov. “The past year showed that Bulgarian society deep down is European, there is a European majority, it is getting bigger and we have to work boldly in this direction, despite the very significant institutional and mostly political oppositions in this regard, Stefanov said.

According to Eurostat, 21% of women in Bulgaria who have ever had a relationship have experienced intimate partner violence during their adult life, said the head of the European Commission's Representation in Bulgaria, Boyko Blagoev. “The horrific cases of domestic violence show that this is a problem on which we must continue to work together to find solutions,” Blagoev added.

Institute of Public Administration Senior Expert Gergana Georgieva noted that awareness should continue to be built in society with efforts to combat domestic violence.

The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), the Institute of Public Administration and Demetra Association organized on Tuesday a conference on counteracting domestic violence.

Bulgarian politicians have not used public energy to take action on the issue of domestic violence, pointed out CSD’s Programme Director Ruslan Stefanov. “The past year showed that Bulgarian society deep down is European, there is a European majority, it is getting bigger and we have to work boldly in this direction, despite the very significant institutional and mostly political oppositions in this regard, Stefanov said.

According to Eurostat, 21% of women in Bulgaria who have ever had a relationship have experienced intimate partner violence during their adult life, said the head of the European Commission's Representation in Bulgaria, Boyko Blagoev. “The horrific cases of domestic violence show that this is a problem on which we must continue to work together to find solutions,” Blagoev added.

In 2023, over 20 women were killed by men in Bulgaria, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel said in her address to the conference. The registered cases of domestic violence were almost 1,400, she added. In September, the Government decided to appoint Gabriel as head of the National Council for Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence.

In the coming months, the issue of combating domestic violence will be key in the context of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

Domestic violence in recent days, months, years has been a major issue concerning public relations, Deputy Justice Minister Georgi Nikolov pointed out.