The Domination of Physical punishment in the schools | According to the First Children's Embassy in the world ‘’Megjasi’’ |
|
“Teachers even today still use a wooden stick to administer punishment and they are kicking children in order to educate them” This is stated in the alternative report on children's rights in the country and presented by the First Children's Embassy in the world Megjasi.
One fifth of children in Macedonia are exposed to domestic violence, and in 2-3 per cent of them it happens every day. Half of the children claimed that there is violence in the schools. Two thirds of them reported that there is violence on the street, and one fifth of them said it happens every day. Three quarters of children do not know their rights, and a third of them claimed that professors or teachers do not respect their rights.
This information is part of the data from the “Children’s Alternative Report” on children's rights in the Republic of Macedonia, which was presented by the First Children's Embassy in the world Megjashi.
The research was conducted in early June last year with the help of questionnaire surveys with 63 questions. 62 children among 2234 students from primary and secondary schools across seven different cities in Macedonia took part in the research.
- It is important to note that nine percent of the children claim that there is sexual harassment in schools. It was said at the press conference by Dimitrievska Helena, representative of the children's alternative report in front of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva. “We believe that if the children really knew what falls under sexual harassment, this figure would have been much higher”
According to the report, prepared by the children, the most abused right within the family is the right to privacy and the right to their own opinion. Only six percent of the children are familiar with some SOS - telephone numbers where they could turn to for help, and third of them have already been in touch with them regarding a problem. The right to equality (no discrimination) is one of the least known rights.
In a separate part of the report called "Special notices" were processed a few topics that were not covered by the survey, but the children considered to be of a great importance.
- This includes children who are excluded from school, the quality of education, special needs children and disrespect of children’s needs – added Dimitrievska.
According to her, the children set apart a number of recommendations to improve the situation concerning their rights in Macedonia. They include measures that the state should take in order to guarantee safety of the children’s everyday life, actively promoting peaceful education and regular process of involvement to reduce the high rate of discrimination and violence among peers.
The report was made by the children involved in the project "Building a Culture for Child Participation", funded by the European Commission and UNICEF.
This is the first time in Macedonian children have prepared a report and had an opportunity to represent it in front the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The report was sent to the committee and will be presented by Elena Dimitrievska and Vaska Bojadzi this year on February 3 in Geneva.
www.vreme.com.mk
|
|