More than 90% of Bulgaria’s citizens support gender equality and consider violence against women (verbal, physical and emotional) as unacceptable, a public opinion survey conducted in October by Alpha Research sociological agency under a project of Open Society Foundations, indicate. 4% of the respondents said that it was acceptable for a man to hit a woman, if he is subject to a provocation.

 According to nearly 10% of the residents of Sofia and 14% of the residents of other Bulgarian towns, violence against women is a personal problem that should be solved within the family, data of the poll further indicates.  

Today, we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. A series of protests are expected to take place today in Sofia and other Bulgarian towns. 16 women have died as a result of domestic violence in Bulgaria since the beginning of 2021.