A protest under the title “The Voice of the People against Violence against Children“ is taking place in front of the Courthouse in Sofia. Around 11:00 a.m., citizens gathered to express their support for children's rights and for their better protection. The event was organized on Facebook by the initiative “We are not silent”. Protesters briefly blocked tram traffic on Vitosha Blvd.
Dozens of people gathered in Burgas and Varna.
Permanent video surveillance in all kindergartens and schools, with the recordings being stored for at least six months, is one of the demands of the protest, which was stated by the organizers, the co-organizer of the protest in Sofia, Raya Ivanova, told BTA.
Training and tests for teachers is another proposal. A national public register of convicted pedophiles is also among the protesters' demands. The protest is national and we want to show that we are not silent, Ivanova added.
The protesters in front of the Courthouse carried posters with the inscriptions “The teacher should educate, not traumatize“ and “Violence today leads to violence tomorrow“.
“We are not silent“ call for a fair verdict and a transparent process in the investigation into violence against a child in a kindergarten in Kableshkovo.
These people are at the threshold of their strength, because they are fighting something that in some situations is stronger than them. They really need this support, Todor, who introduced himself as the cousin of the mother of the child from Kableshkovo, told the gathered citizens. Thank you for coming together today, he added.
During the protest, citizens commented on the manifestations of psychological and behavioral consequences of physical violence against a child. It is important that the child be supported and cared for in a safe and stable environment, said Raya Ivanova, who added that she was also a victim of violence.
At the beginning of the month, by order of the acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, the investigation into the pre-trial proceedings in the case was transferred to the Varna District Prosecutor's Office.
In Yambol, parents protested against violence against children
In Yambol, parents protested against violence against children. In front of the Courthouse building, they raised posters with the inscriptions "Behind every frightened child stands the silence of an adult", "Don't turn your head today, because tomorrow it could be your child", etc. The dissatisfaction was provoked by the reaction of the magistrates in the case in Kableshkovo, protesters said, BTA correspondent in Yambol Mira Bezus reported.
We are in court and we demand justice, we demand a better future for our children, none of the children deserve to be mistreated, commented to a BTA reporter Hristina Hristova, organizer of the protest in Yambol.
"It is disgusting, terrifying everything that is happening, and especially what is not happening, no one pays attention, but terrible abominations are happening. They are trying to do a medical examination in 10 months, they expect to see some injuries now," said Tanya Angelova, mother of a six-year-old girl.
"There should be cameras in childcare facilities, it would be good for the educators in childcare facilities to pass some psychological tests," pointed out Ivan Petkov.
Similar demonstrations are being organized today on Facebook by the initiative "We are not silent" in several cities in our country, including the capital. The protests are under the slogan "The voice of the people against violence against children".