site.btaOver 5,000 Protection Orders Issued in 2024, Including 1,600 for Children – Ombudsman

In 2024, courts in Bulgaria issued more than 5,000 protection orders, 1,600 of which concerned children, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva said during a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Legal Aid Act and the Protection against Domestic Violence Act. The event took place at the Museum of the Revival and Constituent Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo (Central Bulgaria), organised by the National Legal Aid Bureau under the patronage of the Justice Minister and hosted by Veliko Tarnovo Mayor Daniel Panov. 

Delcheva underscored that the two acts marked a new stage in Bulgaria’s legal system, strengthening the protection of vulnerable groups such as people without income, women and men in difficulty, children and the elderly. “This was society’s answer to rising sensitivity on domestic violence,” she said, noting that the statistics remain alarming 20 years later. 

She reported that in 2024 alone, more than 53,000 emergency calls about domestic violence were received via the 112 hotline, with over half requiring urgent medical assistance. More than 2,500 crimes were registered in the context of domestic violence, a 65% increase compared to 2023, with a detection rate of 59%, four points higher than the previous year. Twenty women were killed in domestic violence incidents in 2024, while cases of bodily harm rose by more than 130%.

The Ombudsman stressed that lawyers play a leading role in tackling this phenomenon, alongside the state, which must enforce zero-tolerance policies, and NGOs, which provide care for victims.

“Domestic violence is not a private issue, but a societal problem that must not remain hidden behind the walls of the home. Behind every statistic lies a name, a story, dreams and a life that must be protected,” Delcheva said.

She added that the National Legal Aid Bureau and its regional centres are essential tools that enable victims of domestic violence to access both legal and psychological support.