The first European Day on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse was marked at the National Assembly. Bulgaria is currently chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe one of the most important priorities being the protection of children's rights.

To contribute actively to countering crimes that involve sexual violence against children, the Council of Europe launched in 2010 the “ONE in FIVE” campaign, said the Chairperson of the Bulgarian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Dzhema Grozdanova. She went on to say that the campaign is so titled because one of every five children is victim of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, i.e. 20% of children. It is estimated that between 70 and 85 percent of children who are victims of sexual violence know their offender, pointed Dzhema Grozdanova, adding that sexual violence has various forms of manifestation - abuse, pornography, prostitution, trafficking, online sexual abuse. She also reminded that Bulgaria is a party to the Convention of the Council of Europe for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (“Lanzarote Convention”) of 2011.

The Chairperson of the State Agency for Child Protection Eva Zhecheva noted that the topic of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children is still a taboo in Bulgaria. She pointed out that in partnership with NGOs the State Agency is developing policies to address the issue. Most importantly, we have to open our eyes to this problem that impacts children's rights, to talk honestly and openly about it and to develop policies that are sustainable and effective, said Eva Zhecheva.