News

17 October 2025

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva sent an opinion to the chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Anna Alexandrova, in which she supports the bill to amend the Penal Code, which provides for raising the age limit for criminal law protection of children from 14 to 16 years in crimes related to their sexual integrity.

In her opinion, the Ombudsman states that the proposed changes will provide better protection for children against violence and sexual abuse and are in line with international standards and the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

"These changes will provide a safer and more secure environment for children and strengthen respect for their personality and dignity," notes Velislava Delcheva.

She emphasizes that sexual abuse against children is one of the most serious crimes and often leads to serious consequences for the mental and emotional health of victims, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the Ombudsman, children between the ages of 14 and 16 are at a particularly sensitive age, at which they still lack sufficient maturity and experience to understand informed consent for sexual acts. Raising the age limit will be an important step towards more effective prevention and protection of children from abuse.

"This change is important and necessary because it shows that society recognizes more clearly the vulnerability of children and is committed to their protection," Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva adds in her opinion.