Survey: Violence against children, still present in many Romanian households

One in three parents in Romania admits they beat their children, and one in five believes education is only possible with violence. These are the results of a study from the Save the Children Foundation, ten years since the enforcement of the law banning violence against children. Violence is still to be found in many Romanian households, the study found, and 63 percent of children complain they often get beaten. But only half the parents admit they sometimes beat their children. “Romanians were raised with this mentality, that the child is the family's property, but it is clear people have to understand violence breeds violence,” said Gabriela Alexandrescu, president of the Save the Children foundation. The recent study also found 7 percent of students complain they are beaten in school or in kindergarten. The number doubles in rural areas, and is 2.3 higher among Roma children, as well as five times higher among boys than among girls. That is to say teachers beat mostly boys, and Roma children. One third of respondents said they are being insulted by teachers at school. By Romanian law, parents who beat their children can have their parental rights removed, or even serve time in jail. editor@romania-insider.com