site.btaSofia Municipal Council Calls for Zero Tolerance to Violence among, against Children

The Sofia Municipal Council (SMC) on Thursday published a declaration of no tolerance to all forms of violence among or against children.

"We, the municipal councilors of the Sofia Municipal Council, as representatives of local self-government, elected by the citizens, taking into account our powers and obligations under the applicable law in force in Bulgaria, most categorically declare our intolerance to all forms of violence among children or against children", the declaration stated.

"We categorically declare that we do not accept that the children of Sofia go to school with fear that they will be attacked, beaten, harassed, while at the same time local gangs feel unpunished and harass defenseless people, children, animals without restraint," the declaration continued.

The SMC will support all measures of the municipal administration, the bodies in the Sofia Directorate of the Interior, the responsible institutions in the field of education and justice, which will prevent violence against children and violence by children, the municipal councilors declared. They insisted that the National Assembly urgently consider and adopt amendments to the applicable laws and bring them into line with the current development of public attitudes related to youth violence.

The municipal councilors also called for the creation and effective functioning of a coordination mechanism between the responsible institutions instead of transferring the responsibility. No perpetrator can feel above the law, the councilors stressed, adding that responsibility lies with those who are appointed to guarantee security and those who set the tone of speech in society, as well as those who are elected to create the rules or to ensure order.

"We express this position by insisting that all competent state and local authorities take a package of immediate and decisive actions," the declaration concluded.