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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Certificates granted to 26 schools that completed “School without Violence” programme

Belgrade, 26 February 2008

Serbian Minister of Education Zoran Loncar stated today that around 10% of schools, or more precisely 101 schools, 6,770 teachers and 71,113 students, got involved in the “School without Violence” programme.

Zoran Loncar

Loncar told a press conference that certificates were given to representatives of 26 schools that completed this programme and added that funds to include another eleven schools were provided by Elektroprivreda Srbije.

He also said that security in schools is not satisfactory and pointed out that to reduce the violence the state should take systematic measures.

Increasing security levels and reducing violence should be among the top priorities for the state and therefore comprehensive action by various state organs is needed; the Ministry of Education as well as other ministries, including the Ministry of Interior, he explained.

Loncar also mentioned that the Ministry recently created a Protocol on the protection of children from violence.

Judita Reichenberg

UNICEF Area Representative to Serbia Judita Reichenberg said that the experiences of other countries showed that three years is not enough to visibly reduce violence in schools and added that results can be seen after one generation is taught against violence during their education.

She said that according to 2006 research, 65% of Serbian students were at least once in three months exposed to peer violence whereas it is alarming that 32% of students had problems with violent behaviour by teachers.

UNICEF National Ambassador to Serbia and promoter of the “School without Violence“ programme Aleksandar Djordjevic said that it is very important that children from their childhood know true values and only in that way can a better future for Serbia be created.

Aleksandar Djordjevic

He noted that children need to know that they must not tolerate violence and that they should not respond to violence by using violence.

The programme titled “School without Violence – Towards a Safe and Enabling Environment for Children” has been implemented in Serbia since September 2005 by UNICEF, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Health and other institutions.

The programme is being financed with voluntary contributions from citizens and the corporate sector. So far over 50,000 individuals and nearly 1,000 companies have supported the programme.