News

25 November 2022

“Today is the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In 2019, I was the first Ombudsman in the world to be heard by the Committee on Eliminating All Forms of Discrimination against Women in Geneva. I spoke about domestic violence in Bulgaria. I listed 10 recommendations for amendments to the Bulgarian legislation. These recommendations came back to Bulgaria in the form of an official Committee opinion insisting on changes in the Bulgarian legislation and the work of the institutions but absolutely nothing was done as a follow-up.” Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva addressed the participants in the round table “Pro-Active against Violence against Women. Love Does Not Hurt! Speak Up! Help!” organised by Animus Association Foundation on the occasion of 25 November.

She emphasised that, over three years, close to 60 women were murdered and this was only the “official” statistics while there were many victims of violence who were not covered by those numbers. According to her, a significant percentage of the victims of violence are men, people with disabilities, elderly parents, people who are completely helpless and their voice is not heard.

“However, we know that they are there and it is our society’s fault,” Diana Kovacheva was definitive.

She emphasised that she wanted to begin her address with the good news that a bill on domestic violence had been put forward before the National Assembly by Members of Parliament because the official bill of the Ministry of Justice was moving with the negative opinion of the Ministry of Finance. 

“I am not sure that even if there is time, this Parliament will find the courage to adopt the bill. I do hope it will. This bill is the absolute minimum for protection of people – women, children, men – who are victims of domestic violence,” the Public Advocate added. Once again she raised the issue about the systemic nature of violence and the victim needing to submit three consecutive reports via the hotline so that an assault could be treated as a crime.

At the event, four young women were brave enough to share their heart-rending stories of domestic violence and turned to all attendees for help. The victims asked for a law with a clear definition, official statistics, examination of the problem, immediate protection, grave and fair penalties for aggressors, more crisis centres throughout the country, social, psychological and health support, training courses, awareness programmes and prevention.  

“I cannot but draw attention to the inability of the system to prevent violence against people. I cannot but draw attention to the words that these women are fighting the institutions to receive support while the system is bending down and it is not sufficient to simply have a law, even though this is the first step; this bill, if adopted, together with the related amendments to the Criminal Code needs to be followed by institutional changes in the work of the institutions. So that when you knock at the police door, you will not be knocking at a closed door; so that you will not be met with looks of incomprehension and indifference,” the Ombudsman emphasised.

The event was also attended by Sergey Stanishev in his capacity of Member of the European Parliament. He shared that a common EP directive was envisaged on the matter and noted that, at the time, Bulgaria did not even have a prevention coordination authority.