UNICEF Bulgaria will launch a campaign against violence in schools, UNICEF representative Octavian Bivol, said.

The project for the campaign was developed in co-operation with Bulgaria’s State Agency for Child Protection (SACP), Education Ministry and Labour and Social Policy Ministry, Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.

The programme will probably be launched by the end of May 2007.

It includes the creation of emergency hotline for the whole country for victims of violence in schools.

Students will be trained to cope in conflict situations and to improve their communication skills.

Bivol said that a massive information campaign for the project would be launched and the control on child rights protection will be increased.

UNICEF will co-operate with SACP and National Statistical Institute to elaborate indicators to monitor child poverty in Bulgaria.