Duration: 01.05.2008 – 30.04.2011
Leading organization: Crime Prevention Fund – IGA, Foundation
Partners: Open Door Centre Association – Pleven
Source of funding: OAK Foundation, Switzerland
General aim is to reduce the number of children subject to sexual abuse and/ or exploitation through the implementation of an integrated approach for work both with children victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse.
Specific objective:
- To facilitate access to specialized services for children victims of sexual abuse or at risk of such abuse through: RMT activity, institutionalization of Reception Desk, Family Consultative Centre (FCC) for children victims of sexual abuse in the regions of Pleven, Pazardjik, Sofia and Razgrad;
- To increase the effectiveness of the process of identification, direction and rehabilitation of victims of sexual abuse or at risk of such abuse by establishing RMTs and specialized training of their members in the regions of Pleven, Pazardjik, Sofia and Razgrad in skills for active participation in this process;
- To reduce crimes and anti-social acts involving sexual abuse committed by young offenders through development and implementation of specialized programs in the regions of Pleven, Pazardjik (including inside institutions – the Correctional Boarding Schools in Rakitovo and Podem) within the specialized social service “Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration);
- To promote and multiply the project results through various activities and advocacy campaigns aimed at increasing the sensitivity of local communities, stakeholders and the media on the problems of sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

 

NEWS

 

 

A three-year project of Fund - IGA ended with a national conference

(12 May). Yesterday at the conference hall of Grand Hotel Hebar, Pazardjik, was held the final conference of project “Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation of children.” The project length was three years and was funded by the Swiss foundation "OAK". Leading organization is fund for crime prevention - IGA.
The event was attended by around 70 representatives of institutions and organizations from Sofia, Plovdiv, Ruse, Pleven, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Peshtera and Rakitovo with respect to the theme of the conference - "Sexual offenses against children."
The participants were welcomed by Daniela Masheva (Deputy Minister of Justice), Darinka Yankova (Deputy Executive Director of ASA), which read a congratulatory letter from Totyu Mladenov (Minister of Labour and Social Policy) and Dafinka Semerdjieva (Deputy Governor of Pazardjik Municipality) The project’s main objective is to reduce the number of children subject to sexual violence and / or service through the implementation of an integrated approach to working with children - victims and perpetrators of sexual violence. During the conference, was presented the first ever study of sex offenders against children, as well as programs and tools to influence this target group.
Two cultural events accompanied the forum - an exhibition and theatrical performance. The exhibition "The Stolen Sun" was opened in the foyer of the Town Hall of Pazardjik. It presents posters of children's drawings, sculpture and other media of children affected by violence. The exhibition has already been shown at City Art Gallery - Plovdiv at the beginning of this year. From 18.30 hours, the Chamber Hall of Drama Theatre "K. Velichkov "- Pazardzhik, was presented the play “Equation” of the Drama Theatre “Sava Ognyanov,” Ruse. It is work of the Ruse’s playwright Orlin Dyakov. The play is part of a national project of the theatre for prevention of the violence among the children in school. Besides the conference participants, the play was visited by students of the Vocational School of Economics and Management in Pazardzhik, who also participated in the project’s realization.

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„The Stolen Sun”

On Friday, 25 February, from 16.30 hours in the City Art Gallery - Plovdiv was opened exhibition "The Stolen Sun”. The exhibition presents photographs of works of children victims of violence. The children have created their works in dealing with a group of artistic activities within a project sponsored by "OAK" - Switzerland. The project "Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation of children” is being implemented by the Fund for Crime Prevention - IGA from 2009
The exhibition displays 36 works of art made of 16 children aged 6 to 16 years. The actual work with the children lasted six months. The aim of the exhibition is to focus public attention and to sharpen public awareness and alertness to the problem. In April, the exhibition will be presented in Pazardzhik as part of the final project conference.

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Training of staff to perform screening

At the end of September was held the second phase of screening for risk of committing sexual offenses, namely the training of already selected team. The learning process involved representatives of GD “Execution of Punishments” of the Ministry of Justice; inspectors of Regional Office Execution of Punishments (ROEP) "Probation’" Sofia and Plovdiv; representatives of Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Children at Risk (CSRICR), Plovdiv; CBS - Rakitovo and others.
The training program included lectures and presentations on the following topics: “Principles and organization of screening;” “Screening for risk of sexual offenses: Characteristics of contingent forecasts;” “Demographic and criminological data;” “Serological data;” “Criminological-Personal data;” “Psychological-Personal data” and more.
The training ended with a plenary discussion: “Screening of risk of sexual offenses.”
The forum was held within the project “Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation of children.” The project is funded by the Swiss OAK foundation.

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Workshops Programme Team 

In September the program team of Project “Network to prevent violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation of children.” carried through two workshops to discussion and adoption of the individual modules and decision to hold the first training program of the people leading the Correctional programme working with sexual offenders in prison - sentences of section VIII "lewdness" Art. 149 - Art. 159 of the Penal Code, before its implementation.
Both meetings were held in hotel "Elbrus", Velingrad. The first one was on 2 and 3 September and the second within the period 27-29 September. In the programme were included presentations on “Motivation,” “Cognitive Restructuring,” “Identification of Dysfunctional Beliefs and Emotions,” “Recognizing and Addressing the Dysfunctional Behaviour Models,” “Reinforcement of Functional Behaviours,” “Interpersonal Skills,” and others.
The meetings were attended by members of the programme team: representatives of General Directorate "Execution of Sentences,” psychologists from prison, experts and consultants. The experts did give feedback on the consultants’ presentations and the implementation of the recommendations. The project is funded by the Swiss OAK foundation.

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Students have realized Project “Together against sexual abuse against children”

On 17th of June students from Vocational School of Economics and Management in Pazardzhik, which were realizing project “Together against sexual abuse against children”, have gathered at the Youth Center to complete their nine months information campaign. Through information activities and materials the students implementing the project increased the awareness of guest students, parents, teachers, psychologists and the general public on the topic of sexual violence against children. Within the project was made a comprehensive program for realization of the activities, were prepared visual materials, were formed teams for distributing the materials and for surveying the public opinion, was increased students sensitivity on the topic, was held training with representatives of other schools for their involvement in the implementation of primary mission. Exported were lectures on the topic to 890 students and distributed over 2,330 information materials.
Young people stated their intention to continue their work on the topic in view of its relevance. Their idea is to create a local resource in the schools themselves to resist sexual abuse. It can be successfully implemented if increased sensitivity not only students but also society as a whole. Of 16 people, who started the project to its finish the number grew to 50 participants. There was strong interest and on the side of Language School and other schools in Pazardzhik.
The school project is part of a larger project of Fund - IGA “Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation against children”, which is funded by the Swiss “OAK” foundation.

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A program for work with sex offenders will be developed by purposive team 

From the 11th to 13th May in the conference hall of hotel "Elbrus,” Velingrad, was held a workshop on the project "Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation against children." The project is managed by the Fund - IGA and is funded by the Swiss OAK Foundation.
Participants in the meeting were prison psychologists, who are involved in the project, representatives of General Directorate "Execution of Punishments” at the Ministry of Justice, the project’s team and experts, who has developed the study design and prepared the final report.
At the meeting were presented base results from the research among individuals convicted in sexual crimes. Also, the most significant risk areas and guidelines for their rectification were tagged. A team was assigned for the development of a corrective program for dealing with sexual offenders. The team will have to determine and the pilot sites for its approbation. They started with accepting a schedule and needed steps for the program creation and implementation. The team has also discussed the program’s concept, structure and content.

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”Behind the curtain of fear”

At the end of April, town of Pleven, was held the closing event under the "Behind the curtain of fear" project. From last autumn on the project were working students from grade 9 and 10 of the Vocational School of Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy "Nikola Fichev” in Pleven, led by Evelina Ikonomova, lecturer in Bulgarian language and literature in the high school. This project is part of a larger, three-year project of Fund – IGA: “Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation against children,” which is funded by the Oak Foundation - Switzerland. Project’s partner in Pleven is Association “Center Open Door.”
With the use of the possibilities of theater and modern information technology, the performance the young people brought to light one of the highly ignored issues of our society - sexual violence against children. The script of the play "The manager of Eli" is written with help from Ilko Ilarionov, director of the Drama Theatre in Pleven. The play’s premiere was attended by Petya Vasileva - a municipal councilor and chairman of GERB women in Pleven, DBBZ’s Director, Director of the Drama Theatre, representatives of Child Pedagogical Office I and II in the Police Department, representatives from the Directorates “Health” and “Social Activities” in Pleven Municipality, representatives of the RECs, school directors, managers of construction companies, with which the school is in partnership, representatives from the school board, parents and students. Actors and participants in the project received numerous flowers and congratulations.

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National Working Group will meet in a draft IGA 

On February 10 in the “Struma Hall” of “Rodina” Hotel - Sofia was held the second workshop of the National Working Group on the project “Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing violence and sexual exploitation of children.” The project is realized by Fund - IGA and "Open Door" - Pleven.
The speakers, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Velinov, judicial psychiatrist, and Georgi Kirilov, clinical psychologist, have presented specialized studies of sexual offenders. With representatives of the General Directorate "Execution of Sentences" were discussed the steps for introducing the program for work with convicted persons, sexual offenders, in the system of the Directorate. The project is implemented with financial support from the Foundation OAK - Switzerland and will continue until the month of May 2011.

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Student campaign against sexual violence over kids launched in Pazardzhik

Today at the Professional School of Economics and Management – Pazardzhik launched a campaign on a topic „Sexual violence over kids”. It started the realization of project «Together against the sexual violence over kids», which is developed by the children themselves.
In April this year students from three schools in Bulgaria – Professional school of construction, architecture and geodesy „Nikola Filchev” - Pleven, 73 SOU „Vladislav Gramatik” – Sofia and Professional School of Economics and Management – Pazardzhik participated in a training seminar in Pamporovo. The training was implemented within the project “Network for prevention the violence over kids”. Integrated approach to reducing the sexual violence and exploitation against children, that is implemented by Crime Prevention Fund IGA and funded by the Swiss foundation „Oak”. After the seminar, students developed their own projects that were financed during this month and would be implemented.
Today’s event was honored by the Mayor of Pazardzhik Todor Popov, who is a patron of the campaign. Representatives of many institutions working with young people took part.

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Specialists trained to advise children victims of sexual abuse 

Training for professionals involved in the activities Registration Office and Family Consultation Center was held in the period September 17 - 19 in hotel Perla, Sunny Beach. The seminar was on project “Child Abuse Prevention Network”. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children funded by the Swiss foundation Oak.
Specialists from crisis and consultative centers in Pazardzhik, Peshera, Pleven and Plovdiv took part. The program included lectures on the methodology of providing the social service Center for social rehabilitation and integration of children and the activity of family-counseling centers as well. It was introduced the activity of the Crisis Center for individuals and children victims of violence and traffic – Peshtera, center “Open Door”-Pleven and Center for social rehabilitation and integration for children at risk in Plovdiv. Vladimir Velinov-psychiatrist and Diana Velkova and Georgi Kirilov – psychologists participated as lecturers. The training ended with a discussion on the documentation for reporting the activity of the Registration offices and the family-counseling centers.

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Experts trained to work with children victims of abuse

After the selection of specialists to work in the Registration Desks and the Family Consultation Centers for children victims of violence and abuse in the regions of Pazardjik, Plovdiv, Pleven, Peshtera and Sofia, they participated in their first seminar. This was the first of three trainings to be organized within project “Child abuse prevention Network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children”.
The aim of this first training was to introduce an integrated model for psychological assessment of the client – victim of sexual abuse and to improve the psycho-diagnostic skills and knowledge of the participants.
The project is being implemented by IGA in partnership with Open Door Centre – Pleven and is funded by the Swiss foundation OAK. One of the aims of the project is to improve the access to specialized services for children victims of or at risk of sexual abuse.

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Training of Multidisciplinary Teams on child abuse prevention and rehabilitation

From the 8th to the 10th of November in Rodopski Dom Hotel in Chepelare, was carried out a training of the Regional multidisciplinary teams on project “Child abuse prevention Network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children”.
Representatives of established Regional Multidisciplinary Teams - the court, the prosecution, the Municipality sections “Execution of penalties”, LCPJD, CBS, NGO, police, Child protection office, social workers from the Crisis centers in Sofia, Plovdiv, Belovo, Pazardjik, Pleven and Peshtera took part in the training.
The lecturers presented the activities of the Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Juvenile Offenders and Risk Groups – Plovdiv, the Crisis Center for victims violence and trafficking in Peshtera, the Complex for Social Services for Children and Families – Sofia, and Open Door Centre in Pleven. They discussed themes were related to the methodologies of services for care and rehabilitation, the Registration Desk and Family Consultative Centre methodologies, methods and approaches for work etc. “Child abuse prevention Network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children” is a three year project, which started last year funded by the Swiss foundation “OAK”. Fund - IGA is the leading organization in partnership with Centre “Open door” – Pleven.

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Police officer’s training on problems related to the violence and the exploitation of children

(25th of February) Yesterday in Pazardjik in the hall of RAED a training seminar for representatives of Regional Police Department - Pazardjik was carried out. The training was in the frames of project “Child abuse prevention network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children”. Lecturers on the seminar were Dimitar Rusinov – Program Director of Fund - IGA and Zlatka Macheva – Chairperson of “Centre Open door” Association - Pleven – IGA’s partner on the project.
The first part from the seminar was directed towards the theme “crime prevention and work with offenders” and the second part – towards the specifics of the social services “Crisis center”, “Family-consultative center”, “Registration desk”, “Open telephone line” as well as the work with the victims of violence.
Discussion with accent on the difficulties which the inspectors from security police meet in their everyday work was carried out in the end of the training.

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Work meeting of the Regional multidisciplinary team in Pazardjik 

Work meeting of the Regional multidisciplinary team on project “Child abuse prevention network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children” was carried out in the hall of RAED - Pazardjik in the beginning of the week. In the work meeting participated representatives of institutions from Pazardjik, Belovo, Septemvri and Peshtera, Regional Prosecution - Pazardjik, Regional Police Department - Pazardjik, the Child Pedagogical Offices of Pazardjik, Septemvri and Belovo, LCPJD of Pazardjik, Belovo and Peshtera, the “Child Protection” Departments in Pazardjik and Peshtera, Municipal administration - Belovo and Directorate “Social Assistance” - Peshtera.
Concrete cases and common initiatives for prevention of the violence among the children and the sexual abuse of children were discussed on the meeting. The project is implemented by Fund – IGA and Centre “Open door” - Pleven with the financial support of the Swiss foundation “Oak”. The aim of its implementation is to reduce the number of the children, subjects of sexual abuse and exploitation, through implementation of integrated approach for work with them.

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Informational day about child abuse implemented in Belovo 

(6th of February) Today, from 10.00 till 13.00 o` clock, in Gymnasium “Al. Ivanov – Chapai” – Belovo, an informational day on project „CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION NETWORK. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children” was carried out. The project is implemented by Fund – IGA and “Open door” centre – Pleven.
The main lecturer was ass. Professor - d-r Vladimir Velinov, dm and the accent of the forum was on the aggression in school, the methods for prevention of the violence and the roles of the school and the institutions in these processes.
In the forum participated teachers and tutors from Belovo, members of the LCPJD – Belovo, representatives of Child pedagogic office and Municipality Belovo.

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Training on child abuse prevention 

From the 10th to the 12th of November in Troyan, was carried out a training of the Regional multidisciplinary teams on project “Child abuse prevention Network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children”. Fund - IGA is the leading organization in partnership with Centre “Open door” and the funding organization is the Swiss family foundation “OAK”.
Representatives of the court, the prosecution, the Municipality sections “Execution of penalties”, LCPJD, CBS, NGO, police, Child protection office, social workers from the Crisis centers in Sofia, Pazardjik, Pleven and Peshtera took part in the training. They discussed themes related to the actual legislation, relevant to the problem, the methodology of cooperation between the institutions and the organizations, when there are cases of sexual abuse of children as well as the models for prevention, work with the offenders and the victims and their reintegration in the society. The lectures were led by experts from Fund – IGA, Centre “Open door”, psychologists from the Complex for social services for children and families at risk – Triaditza as well as inspector Violeta Alandjiiska from the Sofia Police Department – winner of the title “Officer of the year” 2005.

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Sofia municipality – host of event of Fund IGA’s project

The first meeting of the National working group on project „Child abuse prevention Network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children” was carried out yesterday in Hall №1 of Sofia Municipality. The meeting was open from Yordanka Fandakova – Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality. Experts from Pazardjik, Pleven and Sofia made presentations on the theme. Participation took representatives of Supreme cassation prosecution, Sofia Directorate of Ministry of Interior, sector “Probation” at Municipal section “Execution of penalties” - Sofia, UNICEF, Sociology Institute, the Prison of Sofia, the Complex for social services for children and families at risk - Triaditza, the administration of Sofia Municipality, representatives of the Municipalities Pazardjik, Pleven and Peshtera and the nongovernmental sector. The main aim of the project was also presented, namely – reducing the number of the children subject of sexual abuse and/ or exploitation through implementation of integrated approach for work with children, victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse.
Leading organization of the project is Crime Prevention Fund – IGA and partners are – Centre “Open door” - Pleven and “Youth Forum 2001” - Razgrad.
The project is funded by the Swiss foundation “OAK”.

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A project of IGA will work for reducing of the sexual abuse

(19 September) Project “Child abuse prevention network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children” was officially presented yesterday with an Info day in Pazardjik. The project is being implemented by Crime Prevention Fund – IGA with the financial support of the Swiss Foundation “Oak”.
Participation in the forum took representatives of institutions engaged with the problems outlined in the project as well as experts from nongovernmental organizations from Pazardjik and Pleven.
The project will be implemented within 1 year in partnership with Association “Open door center” – Pleven. It has an aim to reduce the number of the children object of sexual abuse and exploitation through the adoption of integrated approach for work with them.
The project will take place in Pazardjik, Pleven, Sofia and Razgrad. It is foreseen the establishment of Regional multidisciplinary teams, Bureau for registration and Family-consultative Center for children - victims of sexual abuse.

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 Swiss foundation supported a project of Fund – IGA

The Swiss foundation “Oak” supported the newest project of Fund – IGA. The project is called „Child abuse prevention network. Integrated approach to reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children” and is going to be implemented within 1 year, in partnership with Open Door Centre Association – Pleven.
The project aims to reduce the number of the children subject to sexual abuse and/ or exploitation through the implementation of an integrated approach for work both with children victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse. It will be implemented in Pazardzhik, Pleven, Sofia and Razgrad. The creating of Regional multi-disciplinary centers and the building of a Bureau for registration and Family-consulting center for children, victims of sexual abuse in Pazardzhik, Pleven, Sofia and Razgrad, is planned The innovation of the project carried out from Fund – IGA and Open Door Centre Association is in the parallel work as with the victims as well with the perpetrators of violence and sexual abuse of children.
In the beginning of the autumn an Information day will present to the communities of the four cities, the team of the project, as well as more details about the implementation and the expected results. Foundation “Oak” is a family foundation, registered in Switzerland, which has already funded projects in Bulgaria, from its creation in 1998 it has supported over 1200 projects all over the world connected with the environment, fight against exploitation of children, human rights, gender equality and others.