The rate of violence against children and violence among children has increased rapidly during the years of the so-called transition period to democracy in Bulgaria, statistical data show. In 2013 only 2,891 signals of such violence were reported, according to the State Agency for Child Protection. The blame is usually laid at the door of the state, of the school… everything else, but us. However, latest data paint an alarming picture. A total of 1,412 instances of violence were registered in Bulgarian families in 2013, followed by street violence and school violence.

People only started to officially talk about violence against children after the adoption of the Child Protection Act back in 2000, which resulted in the establishment of the State Agency for Child Protection in this country, says Head of the State Policy for Child Protection Directorate with the State Agency for Child Protection Tsveta Antonova. The beginning was very difficult. Unlike other countries where legislation is based on long years of experience, in Bulgaria practice is trailing behind the law. Another peculiarity typical of Bulgaria which impedes the agency's work is the fact that the other state institutions do not view violence against children as something within the bounds of their own responsibilities. That is why state institutions are so slow in responding, although child protection is guaranteed by the country's constitution.

“The child protection department looks into every report lodged by Bulgarian citizens - anonymous, written, by phone, etc. The agency takes steps in situations of risk. If such critical cases emerge, the child is accommodated at the social institutions”, Tsveta Antonova explains. “We also inform the Bulgarian court which later makes its ruling. This should be done within a period of one month, but the deadline is never kept. There are cases which are pending for over six months to one whole year, i.e. the circumstances change, but the court is not ready with its ruling.”

Sometimes cases such as these are investigated only after they have been given publicity by the media. There usually follow vociferous exchanges in the media, widespread inspections, penalties and then silence… until the next storm. What is the portrait of the Bulgarian aggressors?

“The adults who are inclined to commit violence against children and who view such behavior as normal and even necessary are people who lack self confidence. These people have psychological problems and very low self esteem. Perhaps, these people were victims of violence themselves when they were children, or were witnesses to such cases in their childhood. When we were children, we were often forced to behave and be quiet. This is also a form of violence against the personality”, pedagogue Iva Trichkova explains.

According to psychologists, low communication skills, low self-control and inadequate self esteem are at the root of any aggressive behavior. Such children wrongly perceive other peoples' behavior as hostile and fail to respond in an adequate manner. Sometimes aggressors are victims of violence themselves and need our help. Children also suffer violence from their own teachers. We have registered 48 such cases in 2013.

“We should compile a psychological portrait of every adult who works with children in order to prevent such cases of violence. This person must be well aware why he works with children. The authorities must not appoint people with emotional problems and low self confidence to responsible positions”, Iva Trichkova adds. “We should conduct psychological training with teachers, in order to catch a given problem and eradicate it on time.”

The response of adults in such cases is not always adequate. However, it is of great importance to identify the victims of violence in time. A child who witnesses aggression at home could become absent-minded and undergo a change of handwriting. Instead of trying to understand what the problem is, the teacher usually calls in the parents or gives the child bad grades. However, it is important to lower the public threshold of intolerance towards violence. According to data of the State Agency for Child Protection, reports of child violence are most often made by police officers (19%), followed by mothers (13.2%). Only 2.6% of all reports are filed by neighbors or relatives. The number of anonymous reports is even lower -1.1%. Many of the victims (25% - 30%) conceal acts of violence, because they either feel ashamed, or are afraid and blame themselves of being incapable of coping with the situation. People call in reports on the national telephone Line - 116 111. On the other side of the line there are Bulgarian psychologists, pedagogues and social workers. However, what matters most is that we do not lose contact with our children and find enough time for them in our busy daily lives.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov