An action plan has been developed for the cities where the highest number of children are born to underage mothers, Teodora Ivanova, head of the State Agency for Child Protection (SACP), told journalists on Monday. Ivanova took part in a roundtable on the Prevention of child/early Marriages and cases of early childbirth.
The discussion was organized by the SACP and included representatives from various state institutions and non-governmental organizations. The agency’s initiative against early marriages is part of its national campaign against child abuse, “Be Brave, Be Kind!”
When asked whether the measures taken by the state against early marriages are effective, Ivanova said: “It’s very difficult for a state measure to work when someone believes that this is part of their tradition or custom.” She added, “That’s why we, at the Agency, present the data and rely on support at the highest political level, both from the Minister of Labor and Social Policy and from the Deputy Prime Minister, who is determined that action must be taken in this regard.”
“We have developed an action plan; we know which cities have the highest number of children born to children, and we will focus our efforts on Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Sliven, Plovdiv, and others,” Ivanova said.
In recent years, there are almost no district prosecutor’s rulings stating that early marriages are part of Roma tradition, added Ivanova. She noted that a draft agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office has been prepared to enable continuous information exchange and to help develop effective state policies for these children. “The children are not to blame — we, the adults, are. Most of all, the family circle is responsible, where these children see and hear that their mother gave birth at 12, continued having children until 30, and then started raising her grandchildren,” Ivanova said. According to her, this phenomenon can only be prevented through proactive measures. “No one intends to punish them,” she assured.
“In these communities, there are people with remarkable achievements, doctors, military personnel, who can help us with their personal experience,” said Teodora Ivanova. She explained that health mediators in the mentioned cities will be partners of the SACP. In her view, a real solution will come when the issue is raised at a high political level, which has already been done, and through on-site visits and discussions within the communities in different cities.
Last year, the SACP sought to sign an agreement with the mayor of a municipality with the highest number of children giving birth, but the agency did not receive understanding from the local population.
Efforts will be united to minimize the number of children dropping out of the education system, Ivanova stated. According to her, children who give birth face not only health risks but also drop out of school and, as a result, fail to enter the labor market.
When asked whether there have been convictions for pedophilia, given that underage girls are giving birth, Ivanova said that the Prosecutor’s Office could answer that question, but added that it is an undeniable fact that sexual abuse occurs.
Action Plan Will Tackle Adolescent Births THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-10-27 12:51:06 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law