Every child has the right to live in a violence-free environment. The children must be praised when they do a good thing, while when they make a mistake they should be told why this is wrong, UNICEF Representative in Moldova Nune Mangasaryan said in the international conference “Child victims of violence: systemic approach to prevention and assistance,” IPN reports.
According to Nune Mangasaryan, studies show that the use of violence as a method of educating a child has the opposite effect. When the children grow up, they are predisposed to use violence. Half of the parents consider that beating is an appropriate method of disciplining children. On a short term, such treatment can lead to a rise in the number of cases of suicide among children and teens, while on a long term it leads to sugar diabetes, hypertension and depression. “We should inform the parents and help them to educate their children without violence and physical abuse. For the purpose, we must continue the information campaigns intended for grownups,” stated Nune Mangasaryan.
Deputy Head of Parliament Liliana Palihovici said the elimination of the use of violence against children is a priority of the government. “Political will exists and thus, the initiatives are put into practice,” she stated. She added that the laws adopted over the last few years center on the children’s security. The penalties for persons who commit acts of violence against a minor were modified, while the offenders who sexually abused a child will be neither amnestied nor pardoned. Special child-friendly rooms were set up at district prosecutor’s offices for questioning child victims and witnesses of violence and children who broke the law. It was decided not to punish the minors in detention with incarceration.
According to recent statistics, one in four children worldwide was physically abused in a severe way. The conference “Child victims of violence: systemic approach to prevention and assistance” was organized by the National Center for Child Abuse Prevention, in partnership with the Child Rights Information and Documentation Center and UNICEF Moldova.
