Aggression against Children in Romania

Comments from my Romanian Source: It's good this new law protects children so well--what worse neglect or violent act can be committed, than leaving newborns uncared for in a hospital somewhere because a home operated by Americans is now illegal??!! And the 'families' abusing these children are NOT foreigners (one reason given for not allowing foreign adoptions--they're always better off with their natural family) .

Most cases of aggression against children occur in family and school
published in issue 3439 page 5 at 2005-05-31

The family is the first place where violence against chiddren mostly occurs, followed immediately by the school, and by the placement centres and prisons, shows a report presented at the seminar 'Violence against Children' organised by the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.

Violence occurs in all the social media and at all levels, in the family, at school, in care institutions, in the street, in prison or detention centres, in the mass-media, but also in sports, stated Gabriela Alexandrescu, President of 'Save the Children' NGO.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) claims that the number of sexual abuse cases against children in Romania is similar to the number in other countries. However, from the point of view of physical abuse, Romania is doing worse than other European countries, Alexandrescu added. 'We all know that the mentality hasn't changed, although the law prohibits one from beating a child humiliating or maltreating the child. It seems that we need comprehensive awareness raising campaigns, to re-educate parents and professionals in order to stop all forms of violence', added the 'Save the Children' President. A report of the Crime Research and Prevention Centre shows that 4,100 juveniles were maltreated, abused and neglected in 2003, and 2,071 in the first six months of 2004. The same source reveals that in 2002 - first three months of 2005, the total number of sex victims was of 2,348 minors and adults. The sex offence structure is as follows: 1,160 rapes, 601 sexual intercourse with a minor, 79 - seduction, 199 - sexual perversion, 260 - sexual corruption and 49 - incest. 848 of the victims were under the age of 14, 824 between 14 and 16 years of age 676 between 16 and 18.

The incidence of abuse and sexual exploitation by trafficking in children cases increased alarmingly. In 2004, the seven counselling centres for abused, neglected and trafficked children (Bucharest, Iasi, Timisoara, Suceava, Targu Mures, Targoviste and Resita) dealt with 506 children victims of abuse in the family or in care institutions. The statistics of the Directorate for the Combating or Organised Crime and Drugs indicate that, in 2004, 27 children victim of internal traffic and 53 of international traffic were identified.

Of the children working in the street more than 8 hours a day 44 per cent beg in difficult conditions, 61 per cent dropped out from school (the majority around the age of 11), 34 per cent are illiterate and 40 per cent have poor writing and reading skills. Over 70 per cent of the 400 children from rural areas interviewed with aged from six to 14 believe it is normal for them to work.

The Executive President of 'Save the Children' says that a comparative analysis had been more difficult to conduct in specific areas, as a study on violence in schools had not been conducted before. Such investigation reveals a very bad situation: in 75 per cent of the schools there is violence of some form: teacher-child or among the children themselves.

The UNICEF study regarding the violence in children's houses and placement centres shows that 30 - 26 per cent of children mentioned abuses, only four per cent admitted they had been sexually abused. Many of them, however, were aware of such situations involving older or younger children. 'This is a situation where measures have not been taken to contain the phenomenon', Alexandrescu also said. The seminar on Monday also addressed the phenomenon of violence against children in conflict with the law, the violation of the rights of the child during proceedings from arrest to prison. All this itinerary is abusive, added the SC Executive President.

The domestic violence is very often met. 70 - 75 per cent are physical abuse, some 70 per cent mental abuse and nine per cent sexual abuse, according to the consolidated data in a WHO, UNICEF and ANPDC joint study. 'We, the adults, need re-educating in child up-bringing and attitudes to him/her', said Alexandrescu.

ANPDC Director General Izabella Popa said that violence against children must be approached globally, and not sectorally, as it has been done so far.

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