site.btaUPDATED Parliament Hosts National Roundtable on Preventing Violence among Children
A national roundtable on preventing violence among children took place at the National Assembly on Thursday. The discussion was organized by the parliamentary Committee on Direct Participation of Citizens, Citizens’ Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society and was attended by over 120 representatives of state institutions, non-governmental organizations, and public organizations.
Addressing the roundtable, Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova said that Bulgaria has wonderful children whose potential and abilities must be developed. “As a university lecturer I can say that there are no bad children. Whatever the problems are, with effort, goodwill and trust they can make progress very quickly, not in months, but in days,” she emphasized.
Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Policy Chair Denitsa Sacheva (GERB-UDF) called for more social services to support working parents, because "modern lifestyles and ways of life, and moving to big cities are breaking the traditional bond with grandparents, and more and more parents are putting pressure on the social system to find ways to support working parents so they can balance work and raising kids." Sacheva assured that the Social Policy Committee would assist in resolving legislative issues related to the topic. The legislative issue is related to counteracting and preventing antisocial behavior among minors, because there is legislation that is a hotch-potch and there currently are three special schools, the MP continued. "In these institutions, we have about 120 children whose biographies are like horror films, and we owe it to ourselves to solve the problem with the regulatory framework, with the care for children with antisocial behavior who have ended up there because of extremely serious social and family problems," Sacheva underscored.
Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria MP Petar Kyosev said that the topic is extremely important, which is why most MPs came with notebooks and pens, ready to hear the participants’ input.
Vazrazhdane MP Dimo Drenchev pointed out that the discussion was prompted by a case of violence between two 13-year-old children in Vidin (on the Danube), which the Committee had been referred to. “I have no idea what the solution could be, that is why we want to hear you, the people working with children,” he added.
Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning MP Gunay Daloolu said that violence cannot be defeated through punishment but must be overcome through values, community, and personal example. He noted that his political force is proposing several initiatives in schools, including the establishment of prevention teams, more campaigns for tolerance and respect, and joint efforts of schools, families, and communities.
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