site.btaDeputy PM Zafirov Declares Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence

Deputy Prime Minister and BSP leader Atanas Zafirov declared zero tolerance for domestic violence during a discussion on "Look Beyond Fear: Together Against Violence", held here on Friday. The forum was organized by the Political Movement Social Democrats, a coalition partner in BSP-United Left.

According to Zafirov, institutions, together with the non-governmental sector and political parties, must seek joint and sustainable solutions, as the problem cannot be solved with palliative measures. “Domestic violence is not merely a personal issue: it is a symptom of a sick society that needs healing. And when we talk about what the main remedy should be, it must be zero tolerance,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated. He cited UN data indicating that every 10 minutes, a woman is killed somewhere in the world.

The General Directorate National Police recorded 284 crimes related to domestic violence in March, nearly 200 of which resulted in various injuries, Zafirov noted. He also pointed out that the Sofia District Prosecution Office reported a rise in case files and pre-trial proceedings related to domestic violence – from 1,723 in 2023 to 2,063 in 2024.

Zafirov warned that an entire generation in Bulgaria is growing up amid violence, accepting it as a normal behaviour - both at home and in school.

He also highlighted the fact that only half of Bulgaria’s administrative regions have crisis centres for domestic violence victims, meaning that equal access to protection is not being provided across the country.