Child Abuse: A Centralized Database

The National Round Table on Combating Violence Against and Among Children was held in the National Assembly, organized by the Parliamentary Committee for Direct Citizen Participation, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society.

The event, which brought together over 120 participants, included representatives of various ministries and was honored by the Chairperson of the National Assembly, Natalia Kiselova. The atmosphere was filled with concern, but also with determination to find effective solutions.

Key Proposal: Centralized Database

The Chairperson of the Committee, Rossitsa Kirova, presented a key proposal for the creation of a centralized database reflecting the real statistics of children who have exhibited aggression. "As a committee, we propose the creation of real statistics on children who have exhibited aggression, a direct link between the class teacher, psychologist, and principal", she said, emphasizing the need for effective communication between schools, social services, and law enforcement agencies.

Problems with the Law on Combating Antisocial Behavior

The Deputy Minister of Interior, Philip Popov, highlighted the active work of the Ministry of Interior on cases of bullying and aggression perpetrated by groups of young people. He pointed out the serious shortcomings of the current Law on Combating Antisocial Behavior of Minors, promulgated in 1958, whose numerous amendments over the years have failed to adapt it to modern challenges. "The Law...struggles to meet the challenges of our time", Popov commented. The Ministry of Interior is actively involved in the drafting of a new law on juvenile justice through an inter-agency working group created specifically for this purpose.

Difficulties in Drafting a New Law on Juvenile Justice

The Deputy Minister of Justice, Michaela Mechkunova, head of the aforementioned working group, shared the difficulties in drafting a new law on juvenile justice, emphasizing its complex legal, human, and moral aspects. "Now I understand why draft laws over the years have failed to be completed", she stated. "We have contentious points that still cannot find a solution...There is a significant discrepancy regarding the views on what the law should be like, whether it should cover minors or not", she added. Mechkunova also presented a worrying statistical analysis: "Child offenders in 80% of cases are victims of violence", pointing to the need for a comprehensive approach encompassing not only punitive aspects but also prevention and social rehabilitation.

Violence Against Children – A Societal Problem

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Ivan Krastev, defined violence against and among children as a symptom of a broader societal problem. "Children who are victims of violence and children who are perpetrators are children at risk; they copy other behavioral patterns seen in the family, in life, and in society", he stressed, calling for rapid changes in the Family Code, for more effective law enforcement, and for societal intolerance of violence. "Let us create public intolerance towards the imposition by public figures, including through media channels, of behavioral patterns leading to violence, because children do not have the protective mechanisms to understand what they see on the screen", added Krastev.

Change in the Authority of Teachers

The Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Natalia Mihalevska, commented on the change in the authority of teachers among Generation Z and highlighted efforts to strengthen the educational function in schools. "All the changes that Minister Valchev initiated in the Law on School and Preschool Education are actually this – a striving to strengthen the educational function...", said Mihalevska, mentioning the introduction of new subjects and measures for prevention. "We consider the creation of a positive school climate to be the most important; this is a change in the environment, in the relationships, in teacher training, and in everything that contributes to having rules based on respect, cooperation, and not punishment", she added, noting the role of school psychologists and pedagogical advisors.

Sports for Children at Risk

The Deputy Minister of Sports, Stoyan Andonov, presented the program "Sports for Children at Risk", emphasizing the importance of sports for the social integration of children in disadvantaged situations. "If their time is filled meaningfully enough with such activities, perhaps there will be less time for phones, for substances, for activities like filming ourselves fighting in the street", he commented, adding that the program will continue to expand.

Call for the Unification of Efforts

The Deputy Ombudsman, Maria Filipova, called for the unification of efforts of all stakeholders – parents, psychologists, teachers, and school principals, as well as for increasing their awareness. She emphasized the risks of free access to the digital space and advocated for a gradual reform of the system.

Prevention and Awareness

The Deputy Chairperson of the State Agency for Child Protection (SACP) Ivayla Kasarova emphasized prevention and the importance of children's awareness of good and bad. She informed about the SACP's various channels for reaching children, including the national children's helpline 116 111, and announced the development of a chat application and a mobile application for more effective communication with young people.