For the first six months of 2006, the number of child abuse cases reached 1002, data of the State Agency for Child Protection (SACP) showed.

During the same period 66 court cases for taking away parental rights were launched, Novinar newspaper reported.

In most cases the abuse was physical, head of the agency Shirin Mestan said. In many cases children were also subjected to emotional, psychological and sexual abuse, said she.

Due to the increased number of child violence cases the union of Bulgarian teachers called for the introduction of a curfew and of uniforms at schools, Novinar reported.

Parents who did not take care of their children should be fined, the union said.

US ambassador to Bulgaria John Beyrle said that parents and teachers had to work together to overcome the problem of violence in schools.