News

26 November 2025

"Violence against and between children is not 'part of growing up'. It is not inevitable. It is not normal." This was emphasized by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva at the opening of the forum "Our Children, Our Responsibility: The (Ir)reparable in Waiting for Working Solutions," organized by the Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.

The Ombudsman identifies the issue as key to protecting children's rights and building effective mechanisms against violence. She emphasizes the need for the society to develop zero tolerance towards all forms of violence – physical, psychological, sexual, and online.

Among the priorities Delcheva highlights are reform of juvenile justice; effective measures against child abuse and domestic violence; enhanced cooperation between institutions and civil society; better awareness of reporting mechanisms; responsible media coverage of issues related to violence.

She recalls that violence often occurs within the family, with parents or close relatives being the perpetrators. That is why the focus on supporting families and overcoming outdated parenting models is key.

Delcheva assures that the Ombudsman Institution will continue to be an active partner in protecting children, including through the creation of a new Civil Advisory Council on the issue of domestic violence.

During the forum, data was presented on a study of attitudes toward violence against and among children, according to which one-third of the 1,006 Bulgarians aged between 25 and 64 who were surveyed said that this was one of the most serious problems in our society. Fifty-six percent cited the family as the main source of violence; only 11% of parents have reported when their child was a victim; society prefers a comprehensive and supportive approach—education, therapy, and social work—to punishment.