Sixteen Days Against Domestic Violence is an annual UN campaign that since 1997 has been observed in Bulgaria. For the seventh time the Bulgarian Foundation for Support of Women Victims of Violence "Nadya" is the national coordinator of the campaign which traditionally takes place from November 25 to December 10. Other NGOs are also involved in the project - Centre for Women's Studies and Policies, Bulgarian Centre for Gender Research, Women's Alliance for Development and Gender Project for Bulgaria, as well as NGOs from Pleven, Varna, Bourgas, Rousse and Targovishte.
This year's 16 days are dedicated to the promotion of the draft legislation against domestic violence. "Our aim is to raise the awareness of the society about the issue and to make the Parliament approve the draft faster", said Rosana Venelinova of the Nadya Foundation.
During the 16 days of the campaign regional and national TV and radio stations will broadcast advertisements, reports and features on the problem. The organisers have also prepared round table discussions and seminars with journalists, politicians, representatives of the police, municipal authorities and judiciary. The campaign will end with a simultaneous news conference in all cities and towns where the campaign has been taking place.
The first draft of the act against domestic violence has been developed by the Bulgarian Centre for Gender Research (BCGR), Iliana Stoicheva of the BCGR said. It was written with the help of experts from Minnesota, which was the second US state to adopt such legislation 25 years ago. This summer the act was moved to Parliament by MPs Mariana Dikova and Kostadin Penchev from the National Movement Simeon II. But since then it has not been able to make its way onto the busy agenda of the Parliament, Stoicheva said. That is why the BCGR has prepared postcards to be sent to all MPs during the campaign, saying that all laws are important.
In a public opinion survey commissioned by the BCGR this year, 40 per cent of those polled answered that they personally know a woman abused at home physically and 26 per cent answered that they personally know children who are victims of domestic violence. People divide equally when asked whether domestic violence is a personal or a public issue. Yet, more than 85 per cent believe that special legislation is needed.
According to Stoicheva, 45 countries have anti-violence laws or special sections on domestic violence in other laws. Twenty-one countries are in the process of adopting such legislation. If the act against violence against women is adopted in Bulgaria, it will become the first Balkan country with such special legislation. Romania has a section on domestic violence in its anti-discrimination act.
This year's 16 days are dedicated to the promotion of the draft legislation against domestic violence. "Our aim is to raise the awareness of the society about the issue and to make the Parliament approve the draft faster", said Rosana Venelinova of the Nadya Foundation.
During the 16 days of the campaign regional and national TV and radio stations will broadcast advertisements, reports and features on the problem. The organisers have also prepared round table discussions and seminars with journalists, politicians, representatives of the police, municipal authorities and judiciary. The campaign will end with a simultaneous news conference in all cities and towns where the campaign has been taking place.
The first draft of the act against domestic violence has been developed by the Bulgarian Centre for Gender Research (BCGR), Iliana Stoicheva of the BCGR said. It was written with the help of experts from Minnesota, which was the second US state to adopt such legislation 25 years ago. This summer the act was moved to Parliament by MPs Mariana Dikova and Kostadin Penchev from the National Movement Simeon II. But since then it has not been able to make its way onto the busy agenda of the Parliament, Stoicheva said. That is why the BCGR has prepared postcards to be sent to all MPs during the campaign, saying that all laws are important.
In a public opinion survey commissioned by the BCGR this year, 40 per cent of those polled answered that they personally know a woman abused at home physically and 26 per cent answered that they personally know children who are victims of domestic violence. People divide equally when asked whether domestic violence is a personal or a public issue. Yet, more than 85 per cent believe that special legislation is needed.
According to Stoicheva, 45 countries have anti-violence laws or special sections on domestic violence in other laws. Twenty-one countries are in the process of adopting such legislation. If the act against violence against women is adopted in Bulgaria, it will become the first Balkan country with such special legislation. Romania has a section on domestic violence in its anti-discrimination act.
