Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel urges Bulgarian people not to turn a blind eye to domestic violence. “We can’t stay with our eyes wide shut [to domestic violence]. Everyone must hear the quiet cry of the victims of domestic violence,” she said as she addressed a round table on measures against domestic violence.
The event is organized by Animus Association with the participation of National Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva, Social Policy Minister Ivanka Shalapatova, Deputy Justice Minister Julia Kovacheva, UNESCO representative for Bulgaria Christina de Bruin and officials of the Interior Ministry and other state institutions.
Deputy PM Gabriel said that the issue should be high in the agenda of the Bulgarian society and that efforts are needed at all levels so that the gloom statistics can be reversed. "Sadly, one in three women has been physically or sexually abused, usually by a partner. Some 20% of women in the EU have been victims of violence at least once,” she said.
She catalogues some steps in the right direction: revisions to the Protection against Domestic Violence Act is about to be voted conclusively in Parliament, the scope of protected persons has been increased, more measures are being taken to protect victim, and a national database has been established for domestic violence cases.
She said that the EU institutions are also working on the matter.
She stressed that one of the best measures is prevention.
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