One of our main operational goals is to advocate on behalf of people affected by domestic violence in Bulgaria as well as to uphold human rights.
For this reason, we formed the NGO Coalition "Together Against Violence", which unites 35+ civil society organizations working for effective policies and sustainable financing in the fight against domestic violence (DV).
It is recognized as a leading advocacy force that not only monitors institutional processes, but also actively influences legislation, budgets and coordination of state policy.
The coalition has a flexible structure, which allows different organizations as well as citizens to stand behind our advocacy actions. We work by uniting and coordinating the civil sector and together we hold the state accountable. We strongly believe in the principle of cooperation, which is why our campaigns are based on constructive dialogue with responsible institutions, experts, politicians and receive wide media coverage. Our goal is clear - to achieve real changes in the lives of citizens affected by violence in Bulgaria.
📌 We achieved the amendments to the Domestic Violence Act
In March 2023, the Wake Up Foundation initiated the creation of the coalition, uniting 35 civil society organizations from across the country. At the first conference, we presented future MPs, ministers, and politicians with a request for urgent amendments to the Domestic Violence Act (DVA), calling for the issue to become a working priority for the new parliament.
The subsequent strategic advocacy, large-scale media campaign, and direct work with politicians – including the preparation and submission of supporting points for plenary debates – led to the coalition’s first major success:
In August 2023, the amendments to the DVA were promulgated. Thus, we achieved a renewed and more progressive law that had been decades overdue. The Wake Up Foundation and the work of the Together Against Violence coalition were honored with the prestigious “Person of the Year 2023” award from the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee. We also received the “Relentlessness” award from TimeHeroes – recognition for our constant and determined work for the rights of victims of domestic violence.
📌Other achievements
- National sociological survey "Hear my voice". We conducted the first-of-its-kind survey among victims of domestic violence, which revealed their experiences and attitudes towards Bulgarian institutions on their path to seeking protection. On June 12, 2025, at a high-level conference, the results were presented to ministers, institutions and the media. The data is used in parliamentary working groups, discussions and legislative revisions, as well as for advocacy.
- Successful campaign for budget transparency - requiring an account of the missing 450,000 leva for combating domestic violence in 2024.
- Active participation in working groups of the Ministry of Justice for the transposition of the EU Directive 2024/1385 on combating domestic violence.
- Influence on the draft law on amendments to the Family Code through coordinated opinions from NGOs and citizens - achieved promise for revisions tailored to the context of domestic violence and the best interests of the child.
- Participation in the National Council for Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence – thanks to our advocacy, the procedure for the inclusion of four NGOs was reopened.
- We hold monthly coalition meetings and build sustainable internal coordination.
📌Advocacy and work with institutions
The coalition has built trust and ongoing dialogue with key institutions:
- Council of Ministers
- Ministry of Justice
- National Assembly (Labor and Social Policy Committee, Demographic Affairs Committee and Legal Committee)
- Deputy Prime Minister and line advisors
📌Media and public campaigns
- Wide coverage of the achievement of the amendments to the Protection from Domestic Violence Act. Coverage of the topic of the “missing 450,000 BGN” to combat domestic violence for 2024
- Mass civil mobilization against the changes to the Family Code, which do not take into account the context of domestic violence and the best interests of the child
- Raising awareness in the FB group “You are not alone”, which is moderated by us with over 10,500 members, through advocacy and educational campaigns.
- National coverage of the “Hear my voice” survey
📌 Plans and priorities for 2026
- Adoption and actual implementation of the Coordination Mechanism
- Advocacy for improved competition and sustainable financing of services for protection and prevention of domestic violence
- Expanding the coalition and partnerships with other networks
- New public campaigns and media initiatives for visibility of the problem
- Work on transposition of the EU Directive 2024/1385 on combating domestic violence