The issue of justice tailored to the needs of children is becoming increasingly central to public debate in Bulgaria. Whether children are victims, witnesses, or accused of crimes, there is a broad consensus that they should not be treated as adults in judicial proceedings. In recent months, institutions and civil society organisations have united around the idea that protecting children’s rights is a shared cause requiring cooperation and systemic change.
On 23 September 2025, the Center for the Study of Democracy and the Attorneys' Training Center Krustyo Tsonchev held a roundtable discussion entitled “Rights and Support for Children in Contact with the Law”. The event brought together two initiatives of CSD: FOSTER, which strengthens the capacity of professionals working with child victims of crime, and FAIR, which promotes awareness of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights with regard to children who are suspects, accused, or defendants.
In her opening remarks, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva noted that there are still no adequate procedural safeguards for children subject to diversion measures: “I will defend the position that these procedures should be reviewed by a court with the participation of a prosecutor.” Deputy Minister of Justice Mihaela Mechkunova added: “Despite differences in approach, we all agree that a new law is needed, and the delay so far has been too long.”
During the panel discussions, judges, lawyers, and experts highlighted key challenges: media coverage of cases involving children, the lack of adapted procedures and social services, the need for specialised training for magistrates and lawyers, and the importance of good international practices such as the Barnahus model. Maria Doichinova stressed: “Sensational news and unverified information often shape public opinion even before the court’s decision and can lead to lasting stigmatisation of children.” Judge Maria Doncheva presented findings from a caselaw study showing that “blue rooms” are still not used everywhere. Associate Professor Dr. Iva Pushkarova called for the immediate repeal of the Law on Combating Anti-Social Behavior of Minors, while attorney Dilyana Giteva described a case where numerous procedural violations during pre-trial proceedings forced repeated actions and created risks of further victimising a child.
In the second session, Tomislav Toshkov, Chief Secretary of the Attorneys' Training Center, spoke about initiatives supporting lawyers in their work with children. Professor Neli Petrova from the Social Activities and Practices Institute emphasised the crucial importance of an integrated approach when working with child victims of crime. Attorney Krasimir Vladimirov of the Sofia Bar Association shared experiences of applying such an approach when representing unaccompanied children seeking or receiving protection in Bulgaria.
Participants concluded that ensuring fair and humane justice requires both an integrated approach and an individual assessment of each child’s needs.
