site.btaMPs Adopt Two Bills to Amend and Supplement the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence

The bill proposed by Korneliya Ninova (BSP for Bulgaria parliamentary group) and a group of MPs aims to provide prompt and effective protection, assistance and support to persons who are victims of domestic violence or are at risk, as well as to exert a preventive and deterrent effect on the perpetrator of violence. The amendments extend the range of victims of domestic violence who can seek protection under the law and facilitate access to justice. It also expands measures to protect against domestic violence and creates a mechanism to prevent abuse of the law.

A national body is established to coordinate, monitor and evaluate policies and measures to prevent domestic violence and to improve interaction between the various state bodies and organizations involved in the problem. An expansion of the number of prevention and protection programmes, and possibility of providing free legal aid in proceedings was proposed. It is also envisaged to establish and maintain a national information system and a national register of domestic violence cases.

The bill submitted by Boyko Borissov (GERB-UDF parliamentary group) and a group of MPs proposes to extend the scope of the law and increase protection measures. Guarantees are created for the implementation of a consistent state policy in the field of domestic violence by coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policies and measures to prevent and combat domestic violence. The amendments propose defining the forms of violence and expanding the range of victims of domestic violence who may seek protection under this law, namely: persons entrusted with the care of children and collateral relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, etc.

Access to justice is facilitated by providing that an application for the initiation of protection order proceedings shall be forwarded to the appropriate court within 24 hours of the victim's request. The draft law provides for the establishment of a national information system on cases of domestic violence carried out throughout the country, as well as mechanisms to prevent abuse of the law.

The bill on protection from domestic violence, introduced by Tsvetan Predov and a group of MPs (There is Such a People - TISP parliamentary group), was not adopted. During the debate, remarks were exchanged about the Istanbul Convention and same-sex marriage.