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Today, 03.07.2015, in the Courthouse of Burgas a seminar “Program Introduction for Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence Specialization for Magistrates” was held. This training was attended by magistrates dealing with civil cases from the Regional and District Court in Burgas as well as judicial assistants. Lecturers in this event were Daniela Gorbunova – lawyer of Sofia Bar Association with experience in the protection of human rights before the Bulgarian courts and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, Diana Videva – founder of Association “Demetra” Burgas, and Anna Nikolova – Head of Foundation “SOS – Families at Risk”.

This training is part of the realization of the project “New Partnerships for Security and Better Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence in Burgas, Turgovishte, Lovech, Montana, Gotse Delchev.” The District Court of Burgas is working together in alliance with the associations “Alliance from Protection of Violence, Primarily Gender-Based Violence” and Association “Demetra” on this project.

Participants were introduced with the legal aspects of the international and national legislation, as well as with psychological ones. During the seminar the best possible inter-institutional cooperation in response to the problem of domestic violence and gender-based violence were presented. During this meeting a specialized program for predators of violence which is available in the Center for Prevention of Violence and Crime in Burgas was presented. The correctional program is carried out in connection with the implementation measures set by the District Court under Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the law on Protection from Domestic Violence – “requiring the perpetrator of violence to attend a specialized program.”

A discussion about the problems in the practice of application of international and national legislation was conducted. Forthcoming the magistrates will be included in the program for specialization in violence based on gender. The main goal of the program is to help the preparation of specialists – lawyers, as well as magistrates for a more effective protection of individuals from domestic violence and other forms of violence, primarily based on gender.

This way the skills of the magistrates will improve in these cities when it comes to application of the Law for protection from domestic violence, improvement and harmonization of the law practices, in correspondence to the international standards.