Bulgaria

As described in a recent article by Agence France Presse, Bulgaria is struggling to modernize its child homes network. Child care system is badly affected by lack of qualified personnel, abuse cases and inadequate adoption regulations. Recent dramatic incidents proved that safety of 8 000 abandoned children in Bulgaria is at risk.

Full version of the article is available here.

One of partner organisations in Childhood without Abuse Project - Social Activities and Practices Institute from Bulgaria - decided to become more involved in tackling the problem of children taking part in legal procedures.To increase cooperation between the Bulgarian organisation and the Nobody's Children Foundation from Poland, a new initiative - "Coalition for child-friendly interviewing" Project - was taken up.

Goals of the new project are:

On 25th June 2008, first child-friendly interview room in Bulgaria officially opened its doors. The room, located in the Complex for Social Services in Pazardzhik, will allow child victims of violence and witnesses of crimes to testify in a friendly atmosphere, without necessity to be confronted with the defendant, his attorney, the prosecutor and the administrator writing down the testimony.

The brochure When a child is a witness in court, published in the frame of Childhood without Abuse Project, is addressed to child witnesses' parents and caregivers. It explains parents' rights as well as the rights of their children within court procedures.