December 10 (BTA) - Some 20 women have lost their lives to domestic violence in Bulgaria since the beginning of the year, Julia Andonova, Development and Communications Director of PULSE Foundation, told BTA in an interview. PULSE Foundation is a civil society organization providing social services to victims of domestic violence.

December 10 is International Human Rights Day and is the last of 16 days of action against gender-based violence, Andonova said.

In Bulgaria, there are no official statistics related to victims of domestic violence, she noted. PULSE Foundation has its own statistics showing that some 300 women, children and men use the organization's services every year, she said. In her words, one in three women in Bulgaria is a victim of domestic violence.

"Our organization has helped nearly 12,000 people in 22 years of service," Andonova said. At the moment, there are 16 victims of domestic violence accommodated at the Foundation's crisis centre. They have 24-hour protection and shelter, she added.

According to Andonova, just about ten crisis centres for victims of domestic violence exist across Bulgaria, which is not enough. In regions like Vratsa, Montana and Vidin people have no access to professional help at all, she explained.