At the end of June 2020, the projects approved within the Call for Support of organizations who fight to eliminate violence against women, of the Bulgarian Fund for Women and the “BCause” Foundation, were completed. The contest, which was announced in October 2019, helped 9 organizations working on the front line to combat domestic violence by funding their core activities with total amount of BGN 39,330.
The direct work with women and children who have survived or are in a situation of domestic violence includes multiple types of services, crisis accommodation, advocacy, work with perpetrators of violence, prevention activities among young people, interaction with institutions and work with the business to achieve more sensitivity toward violence against women.
As part of the realized activities, the nine organizations have worked with 212 women, victims of violence and 53 children, as well as with 21 men. The objectives of the activities are aimed to the elimination of the cycle of violence, mastering techniques to control aggression and creating motivation for self-care and better life. There were held 44 meetings with business representatives in order to analyze the attitudes for prevention of violence against women in the workplace, as well as meetings with institutions to build a coordinated approach and a common response to the issue. Thanks to the promotion of the project and the publicity of the services, the project has reached over 10,900 people in social networks, through online and print media and dissemination of information materials.
Here are the impressive results:
- 409 cases in which psychological assistance was provided;
- 95 legal consultations;
- 338 cases in which social work was carried out;
- 66 social risk assessments;
- 97 consultations by mobile teams in small settlements;
- 121 telephone consultations;
- 17 consultations with perpetrators of violence;
- 10 crisis accommodations;
- 5 court proceedings under the Domestic Violence Protection Act.
The projects were implemented in over 25 towns and villages such as Antonovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Dimitrovgrad, Lovech, Lukovit, small places in the districts of Smolyan, Blagoevgrad, Omurtag, Pazardzhik, Opaka, Popovo, Svilengrad, Sofia, Teteven, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo.
What we can conclude is that violence against women is not a personal issue but a public problem that requires the work of a wide range of professionals who have the necessary sensitivity and skills to instill confidence and hope in women and their children that they deserve a dignified treatment and a better life. The coordinated approach between the NGOs and state institutions is crucial for creating public intolerance towards violence against women and sustainability of good practices, summed up the participants of the initiatives.
