Romania
Violence against children
The campaign on violence against children continues in 2007. This year, our partner is Marius Ivan Foundation, one of the most important partners of Save the Children Romania.
The campaign „Violence breeds violence" started on June 5th, the Day Against Violence on Children, celebrated for the first time in 2007 after the Parliament of Romania approved it at our proposal last year.
This year the campaign's objective is to promote positive discipline within professionals and parents, teach and train them to use non violent education techniques and methods instead using physical punishment and humiliating treatment against children, learn to respect, understand and communicate with children and make the best of them.
Non-violent education is fundamental to a balanced, normal and comfortable relationship between children and parents/carers/teachers as well as to the development of the future adult. Save the Children Romania organises training courses for trainers accredited by the Ministry of Education and Research. The first session took place between June 12-16 and was attended by 38 trainers. The next sessions will be posted on the site.
We also developed a site of resources for parents and professionals working with children: www.educatiefaraviolenta.ro. The visitors can access useful information on this site and ask for professional advice from welknown specialists such as Geogeta Paunescu, Dr. Cristian Andrei si Irina Petrea.
Five resource centers for parents will open their gates this autumn for all who wish to fiind out more information materials on non-violent education, counselling and sharing experience with other parents and professionals:
- Bucuresti („Miguel Cervantes" High),
- Timisoara (Within the HQ of Save the Children Timisoara, Calea Sagului nr. 104),
- Iaºi („Alexandru Vlahuta" School),
- Tg. Mures (Within the HQ of Save the Children Mures, Str. Victor Babes nr.11),
- Suceava („Miron Costin" School).
We are currently working on a guidebook for parents which will be published in November. Details on how to purchase it will be posted o nour site.
Save the Children will open soon a series of public conferences and debates attended by parents, children, teachers, carers, social workers, representatives of local authorities, public services and local media to directly promote positive discipline. Many personalities of the public life who support the campaign will attend the debates as keynote speakers. The first conferences are to take place in Piatra Neamt (September 12), Iasi (October 17) and Timisoara (October 24).
