Ministry of Education launched second stage of #STOPviolence campaign

Chisinau, 20 May /MOLDPRES/- The second stage of #STOPviolence Campaign in online and offline space, which will address the phenomenon of bullying in schools in the Republic of Moldova was launched yesterday by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research (MECC), with the support of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) ), in collaboration with the Coliseum Arts Center and the Mihai Eminescu Theater.

The campaign aims at promoting safer and more responsible use of digital technologies and mobile phones by children and young people, to inform and raise awareness among students, teachers and parents about the dangers of the online environment.

During the campaign, will be presented the educational theater show "A Thousand Angels", based on research and documentation of the phenomenon of bullying in our country, interviews about this phenomenon with psychologists, school principals, teachers, parents and students. The show is a production of the Coliseum Arts Center in partnership with the Mihai Eminescu National Theater and supported by the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts.

UNICEF country representative Maha Damaj pointed out “schools should be a safe place for children and no student should be afraid to go there, or no child should believe that bullying is a status quo accepted ”. "We want to inform children, adolescents, young people, teachers, school psychologists, as well as parents about the phenomenon of bullying, about its causes and effects. We want to determine the common actions and the roles we must all have in addressing the issue, "said Maha Damaj.

The performance will take place at the National Theater Mihai Eminescu according to a program, coordinated with each educational institution. During the campaign, which will end on 30 September 2021, 24 activities will be presented for more than two thousand pupils.

Bullying is defined as hostile behavior and mocking someone. Following the data collected in the last decade, out of 126 million calls made to child phone services globally, almost 18% relate to child abuse and violence and include the following categories: bullying, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. More than 500,000 calls have been registered in Europe alone.

photo: MECC