site.btaDomestic Violence Cases Continue to Increase in 2023

Domestic violence cases continued to increase in 2023, indicated an analysis of data from on various sources for the period 2022-2023, conducted under the National Programme for the Prevention and Protection against Domestic Violence for 2024-2026. The draft strategic document proposed by the government has been published for public consideration until August 15.

In 2023, a total of 2,211 people experienced domestic violence, 1,971 women, of whom 76 were underage, and 240 men, of whom 46 were underage, the document indicates.

In 2022, the identified cases of domestic violence were 736, of whom 10 persons with disabilities, 188 women, six men and 542 children.

An increase was observed in almost all indicators related to pre-trial proceedings for domestic violence. Pre-trial proceedings were 50.1% more compared to 2022, newly initiated ones were up by 82.4%, and prosecutor's documents submitted to the court incerased by 34%. The re were 58% more convicted and sanctioned persons compared to the previous year, and the number of persons acquitted was 11, the same as in 2022.

The Ministry of Interior's annual activity report for 2023 indicated that domestic violence related cromes were 1,614 (873 for 2022), an increase of 84.9%. The detection rate was 52.4%, or 6.4 percentage points more than in 2022. There were three intentional homicides in the context of domestic violence, compared to one in 2022. Domestic Violence bodily injuries were 823 (three times more compared to 2022). Domestic violence protection order defaults were 468, up from 404 in 2022.

The 2024-2026 National Programme for the Prevention and Protection against Domestic Violence draft strategic document set a goal for resolved domestic violence pre-trial proceedings from 31.7% in 2023 to 35% in 2026. It is also envisages to incarease the detection rate of crimes committed in the context of domestic violence from 52.4% in 2023, to 58% in 2026.

The programme also aims to increase the awareness and sensitivity of interested parties on the problems of domestic violence. In 2024, the share of respondents who were of the opinion that there are forms of aggression in the family that are considered normal in Bulgaria was 69%. The goal is to decrease this number to 63%  in 2026.

A public opinion survey, titled  "Domestic Violence in Bulgarian Society (January 2024)" by the Trend Research Centre, conducted among 1,016 adult Bulgarian citizens between January 17 and 24, 2024, showed that a total of 18% of Bulgarians believe that there are cases in which domestic violence is fully deserved. About half of Bulgarians, 48%, are of the opinion that problems in family relations should be solved only in the family.

The strategic document also aims to increase the share of respondents who define themselves as informed (fully informed and somewhat informed) regarding the legal measures that can be taken in cases of domestic violence, from 37% in 2024 to 42% in 2026.

The 2024-2026  National Programme for the Prevention and Protection of Domestic Violence is a key strategic document of public importance that presents the measures that institutions will implement in the three-year period from 2024 to 2026, based on the approved priority activities for funding in the field of domestic violence.

It was adopted by the Council of Ministers in accordance with the Protection from Domestic Violence Act.

For the first time, judicial authorities will have a normative document as a tool to identify and assess the possible risks of subsequent violence, escalation of violence or even lethal violence in the future, which will support the process of making and passing a corresponding decision in the form of a draft Decree of the Council of Ministers on amendments and additions to the Regulations for the implementation of the Protection from Domestic Violence Act which was up for public consideration until August 1.