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Bulgaria's Children and the Norwegian Bogeyman

Anatomy of a panic: how defenders of the "traditional family" in Bulgaria spread fears that a foreign country - Norway - was imposing a dangerous child protection system on them.

Thousands of Bulgarian parents pulled their children out of school in a mass panic last October, fearing they would be abducted by social workers. Many more are protesting against a draft law they say puts 70 per cent of children at similar risk. Are they right to be scared? Or have rumours and fake news spread hysteria about the power of the state? Suddenly, campaigns to defend the 鈥渢raditional family鈥 are gathering strength in Bulgaria 鈥 and across eastern Europe. What鈥檚 behind them? And why do they treat one Western country 鈥 Norway 鈥 as the ultimate source of evil? Tim Whewell investigates.

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28 minutes

Last on

Mon 18 May 2020 20:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 14 May 2020 11:00
  • Mon 18 May 2020 20:30

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