site.btaBulgarian Fund for Women, Fundamental Rights Agency Organize Conference on Domestic Violence in Bulgaria

Thousands of women in Bulgaria live in constant fear of domestic violence, and dozens lose their lives every year. In response to this alarming reality, the Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) are jointly organizing the conference Between Statistics and Reality: Domestic Violence in Bulgaria Beyond the Numbers. The event will take place at the House of Europe in Sofia on Human Rights Day, December 10, the BFW said in a press release on Friday.

The conference is part of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

Between statistics and reality

Domestic violence is not just a personal or family matter - it is a social issue that affects everyone. Since the beginning of 2025, at least 22 women in Bulgaria have been killed, and in more than half of these cases, the suspected perpetrator is a current or former partner. Another deeply troubling trend involves sons killing their mothers.

In 2024, more than 53,000 alerts about domestic violence were received by the 112 emergency hotline, many of which required urgent intervention. Despite recent legal changes, Bulgaria still lacks comprehensive national statistics, and access to services and support remains limited and uneven across the country.

The goal of the conference is to shed light on the real scale of domestic violence in Bulgaria. The data available offer only a partial picture, as many victims never report the abuse, and their cases remain hidden. The forum will give voice to organizations and experts working on the front lines every day and will call for concrete institutional commitments to protect women and children.

Domestic violence in a European context

Domestic violence is an issue across Europe as well: one in three women in the EU reports experiencing violence at least once in her life. The partnership with the FRA makes it possible to place Bulgaria’s situation within a European context and draw on proven international practices. The FRA gathers and analyzes data from all EU Member States and provides policy recommendations that help reduce violence and improve victim protection.

At the conference, the FRA will present new, exclusive European and national data showing how Bulgaria compares to other EU Member States, what the common challenges are, and which practices are most effective in preventing violence and supporting victims. This is a unique opportunity for institutions, media, and civil society organizations to gain insights into European expertise and apply them locally, the press release added.

Together against violence

The event is part of BFW’s national campaign that aims to raise public awareness about domestic violence and support women and children at risk. Simultaneous and sign-language interpretation will be available to ensure broad accessibility.

Official guests include Vice President Iliana Iotova, Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva, and Joanna Goodey, head of FRA's Justice, Digital and Migration Unit. Numerous politicians, diplomats, and civil society representatives are expected to attend and discuss practical measures to prevent violence and protect victims.

"The conference seeks to serve as a catalyst for change, which reminds us that behind every statistic there is an individual - and that only through the shared efforts of society, institutions, and European partners can we break the cycle of violence and build a society where protection and justice are real, not just promised," the press release read.