Stop Violence Against Women
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
last updated 14 October 2008

First Periodic Report

  • Due: 10 March 1983
  • Submitted: 13 June 1983

Second and Third Periodic Reports (French) (Spanish)

  • Due: 10 March 1987
  • Submitted: 6 September 1994
  • Summary Record of the 373rd Meeting (Spanish)
  • Summary Record of the 374th Meeting (Spanish)
  • Concluding observations of the Committee (French) (Spanish)
  • The Committee commended Bulgaria for adopting a national action plan and for its efforts in establishing an intergovernmental commission to monitor the plan's implementation. The Committee also commended Bulgaria for withdrawing its reservation to Article 29. One of the main concerns for the Committee, however, was violence against women in both the public and private spheres. The general perception of domestic violence as a private matter persists. Moreover, legal proceedings may only be initiated upon the complaint of the victim. The Committee recommended that stronger laws protecting women be adopted, including a law providing for prosecution independent of whether a victim complains. The Committee also urged the Bulgarian government to develop medical, psychological, and other measures to aid women victims, encourage women to seek redress, and change attitudes. The Committee expressed concerns over victims of trafficking, including Bulgarian women trafficked to other countries as well as foreign women trafficked into Bulgaria. Finally, the Committee noted that achieving de facto equality for women was hampered by Bulgaria's historical approach through de jure equality; the Committee expressed concerns that there were no special affirmative action laws aimed at bringing about de facto equality through Article 4(1) of the Convention.

Fourth Periodic Report

  • Due: 10 March 1995
  • Not submitted

Fifth Periodic Report

  • Due 10 March 1999
  • Not submitted

Sixth Periodic Report

  • Due: 10 March 2003
  • Not submitted

Seventh Periodic Report

  • Due: 10 March 2007
  • Not submitted

Related Subjects

Overdue Reports
Bulgaria's Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Periodic Reports under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women were due on 10 March 1995, 10 March 1999, 10 March 2003 and 10 March 2007.  They are now OVERDUE