Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pressing issue in Bulgaria, masked by claims of gender equality. Beyond physical abuse, GBV encompasses online harassment, disinformation, and systemic corruption, perpetuating stigma and silencing victims. On November 29, 2024, the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) hosted the conference "Invisible Chains: Disinformation, Administrative Corruption, and Violence Against Women" during the United Nations' campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls" campaign.

The event opened with remarks by Dimitar Markov, Director of CSD’s Law Program, and Dr. Anna Tertychna, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Ukrainian Embassy in Bulgaria. Dr. Tertychna highlighted the escalation of sexual violence against women, children, and men in Ukraine under Russia's continuing aggression. CSD research, presented by the analyst Kristina Tsabala, revealed over 34,000 disinformation articles targeting Ukrainian refugee women in two years, fueling stereotypes and discrimination. Kamelia Dimitrova, Director of the Dignita Foundation, discussed how misinformation fosters labor exploitation and sexual harassment, while Dr. Gergana Tsvetkova from the Venice University Ca' Foscari examined Bulgaria’s resistance to the Istanbul Convention, hindering survivor protection. Luba Kassova, Director of AKAS, urged the media to report responsibly on violence against women. Iliana Balabanova, President of the Bulgarian Platform of the European Women’s Lobby, highlighted that only 1 in 8 Bulgarian women report violence, underscoring the need for crisis centers, gender-disaggregated data, and political engagement. The discussion was moderated by CSD Analyst Gloria Trifonova.

In the afternoon, CSD launched its report "Invisible Chains: Mapping the Links Between Corruption and Gender-Based Violence Against Women in Bulgaria." Analyst Iliana Boycheva and the Director of the Sociological Programme Dr. Alexander Gerganov emphasized the role of corruption in perpetuating inequalities and obstructing justice, calling for data-driven interventions. The systemic challenges of supporting victims were addressed by Desislava Viktorova of the National Police and Diana Videva of the Demetra Association, who stressed the need for sensitivity training among service providers. Human rights lawyer Natasha Dobreva highlighted Bulgaria’s recognition of violence against women as gender-based but advocated for stronger, equitable victim protection frameworks. The conference reinforced the urgency of survivor-centered policies to address GBV and corruption, aiming to dismantle the "invisible chains" that perpetuate inequality and violence.