The Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, Despo Michailidou - Livaniou, condemns all forms of violence, whether perpetrated by children or adults, in any form and in any form, and demands that those responsible for what happened at Paralimni High School be held accountable.
In a statement, on the occasion of what happened at Paralimni High School in relation to animal abuse and the use of flares on the first day of the new school year, the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of the Child asks that the case be examined in depth by all relevant Services , in addition to the thorough criminal investigation of the incident, in order to cooperate and take action of essential importance (at the level of family, parenting capacity, school unit, community, etc.), with a view to eliminating any form of violence inside and outside the school .
According to Ms. Michailidou, animal abuse, the use of flares and what took place at Paralimni High School on the first day of the new school year, and then the posting and reproduction of relevant videos in the media, caused feelings of "disgust, sadness, intense anxiety." and reflection in society ", to note that" the causes of such behavior must be sought, in the interest of the children themselves and their classmates, who made them vigilant spectators of violent killing of animals ".
"Disgusting events," he adds, "can not be part of our culture and we as a society and the State must anticipate and end them at birth." Children need direction and guidance in relation to their expression, in a healthy way. "The behavior shown on their part indicates distortions of perceptions, attitudes and behaviors that prevail in society in general," he said.
He notes that "children need healthy ways to develop their autonomy and this can only be achieved smoothly through the implementation of psychosocial skills programs but also through an active participatory process where decisions are made to hold events."
It also points out that "students should be treated primarily as children, in order to ensure that the provisions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe are implemented for a Child-Friendly Justice", noting that The House of Representatives is debating the revised text of the bill "On the Establishment of a Criminal Justice System Friendly to Children in Conflict with the Law (Prevention, Treatment in the Criminal Justice System and Dealing with Delinquency 2019" of the Law.
Regarding the bill and its philosophy, Ms. Michailidou states that "the perception of a child-friendly justice system begins with the aim of limiting to a minimum, any contact of the child with the criminal justice system", adding that "it is founded in policies and programs, which will act preventively, in order to deal, effectively and in a timely manner, even the phenomenon of manifestation of anti-social behavior ".
Source: KYPE