site.btaBulgaria Joins UN Global Initiative Combating Violence against Children

Bulgaria becomes the 47th country to join INSPIRE, the UN's global initiative to prevent and combat violence against children, the Ministry of Justice announced. This was announced during a meeting between Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev and Dr. Najat M'jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, during the UN General Assembly sessions in New York

According to Minister Georgiev, protecting children's rights is a national priority. “Our accession to INSPIRE will enable Bulgaria to use the best international practices and proven mechanisms for the protection of children – from online harassment to sexual crimes, which, unfortunately, are on the rise worldwide,” he said. The Minister underscored that due to the global reach of the internet, crimes against children are increasingly cross-border, requiring international coordination and joint action.

As part of the initiative, Bulgaria will work to implement globally proven measures and tools in the areas of justice, social services, and healthcare, the Justice Ministry said. Specialized training will be provided for police officers, prosecutors, judges, and other professionals working with children who are victims or witnesses of violence. This will ensure the application of international standards for the humane and effective treatment of children and their families.

Minister Georgiev presented Bulgaria's experience and established good practices to the UN, including the Protection Zone model - a service offering comprehensive support to children who have suffered violence - and the network of “blue rooms” for the sensitive hearing of children in court proceedings. He gave the example of the courts in Ruse (on the Danube), where this model is very well organized and integrated into institutional work.

Dr. Najat M'jid praised Bulgaria's efforts in combating violence against children and welcomed its accession to the INSPIRE initiative. She emphasized the importance of national efforts, combined with global solidarity, to address the challenges of contemporary child abuse, the Justice Ministry reported.

Bulgaria's accession to INSPIRE is in line with the commitments of the Government and the Ministry of Justice for effective reform in juvenile justice and an adequate institutional response to violence, including in the fight against domestic violence.