“Almost 1 in 10 women in Bulgaria say they have suffered threats of physical violence,” Minister of Labor and Social Policy Ivanka Shalapatova said at the forum “Measures for combating domestic and gender-based violence”, organized by the Animus Association in Sofia. According to ministry data, one-third of Bulgarians say they have been victims of violence. Minister Shalapova called for zero public tolerance of violence. “There is no formal excuse not to help the victim,” she said.

“We cannot keep our eyes wide shut. We each must hear the silent cry of the victims of domestic violence,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel at the opening of the discussion.

Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva on her part pointed out that children who have witnessed violence are also victims of the violence against women, and that this is a trauma for life. She stated further there were also instances of violence by sons against their fathers.