Radio România Internațional

Tag: family

  • October 5, 2018 UPDATE

    October 5, 2018 UPDATE

    REFERENDUM — Nearly 19 million Romanian voters are invited on Saturday and Sunday to vote on a proposed redefinition of the concept of family in the Constitution. The initiators aim to define “family” as an institution based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than the marriage of spouses, as it is at present. The Parliament has passed a bill in this respect, based on a citizen initiative for which 3 million signatures have been raised. The referendum sparked fiery debates between the initiators, a Christian coalition primarily supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the supporters of sexual minority rights. The Romanians living abroad may vote in 378 polls hosted by diplomatic missions, consular offices, cultural institutes and other locations. The largest number of polls abroad will be in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the USA, UK, France and Germany. The referendum will be validated provided that at least 25% of the eligible voters cast valid votes.




    MEETING – Hungary supports Romania’s efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday. The Hungarian official had a meeting on Friday with the Romanian Minister for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Stefan Radu Oprea, on which occasion they discussed topics of mutual interest. Péter Szijjártó said Romania is his country’s second largest export market for which reason Hungary is interested in strengthening cooperation with Romania in a number of sectors.




    JUDICIARY — The former tourism minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the anti-mafia prosecutor’s office (DIICOT) Alina Bica, will be detained for 2 months pending an extradition decision, said on Thursday the Interpol office in Costa Rica, where the 2 were apprehended. They had both filed asylum applications in that country. Elena Udrea has received a final 6-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court for bribe taking and abuse of office. The former head of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime, Alina Bica, was in turn sentenced to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting. Udrea and Bica are not the only former high-level officials that have fled the country to escape prison sentences for corruption offences. This is the case with the former mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, who is in Madagascar at present, and the former MP Sebastian Ghita, currently in Serbia.




    NOBEL — The Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, who treated sex violence victims in his home country, and Nadia Murad, a Kurdish human rights activist having survived Islamic State sexual slavery, are the winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained that it has awarded the 2 “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war”. Both had a crucial contribution to raising awareness with respect to this type of war crimes and in fighting them. The Nobel season ends this Monday with the award of the Economy Prize in Stockholm.




    EDUCATION – UNESCO estimates that 69 million teachers are still needed around the world, in order to reach the education targets set for the year 2030. The shortage of teaching staff particularly affects vulnerable categories, girls, children with disabilities, refugees and migrants, children from poor rural communities or isolated areas, the organisation warns on the International Education Day, celebrated on Friday in Romania as well. In her message, PM Viorica Dăncilă said education is a chance for individual development and the foundation of a strong, developed country, with a voice heard at international level, like Romania. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that the education system must provide youth with the skills required in the labour market, including in terms of adjusting to the challenges of a digital society.




    FRIGATE — “King Ferdinand” frigate is, as of Friday, under the Allied Sea Command (MARCOM) and carries out sea traffic surveillance missions in the Mediterranean, as part of Operation Sea Guardian, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Operation Sea Guardian was launched following the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016, to discourage threats against NATO partners, the said source added. The 240-strong crew of “King Ferdinand” frigate will conduct missions in the Mediterranean, thus confirming Romania’s status as a security provider holding operational platforms deployable in various unstable regions in the world, where NATO military presence is required for security reasons. The frigate will conclude its missions in the Mediterranean in late October.




    GUAM — Chisinau hosted on Friday a meeting of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development — GUAM heads of government. The organisation comprises the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova. Participants discussed topics of mutual interest for the member states, with a view to improving cooperation between the 4 states. Moldovan PM Pavel Filip announced the initiation of talks regarding the setting up of a free trade area between the four states, of a common transport corridor and the prospect of removing roaming tariffs. The Moldovan official also emphasized the importance of cooperation in ensuring peace in the region. On the sidelines of the summit, the Moldovan PM Pavel Filip had meetings with his counterpart in Ukraine and Georgia, Volodimir Groisman and Mamuka Bakhtadze, and with the deputy PM of Azerbaijan, Ali Akhmedov. The Republic of Moldova this year is holding the rotating presidency of GUAM, an organisation created in 1997 as an alternative to the Community of Independent States.







  • October 5, 2018

    October 5, 2018

    REFERENDUM – Nearly 19 million Romanian voters are invited on Saturday and Sunday to vote on a proposed redefinition of the concept of family in the Constitution. The initiators aim to define “family as an institution based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than the marriage of spouses, as it is at present. The Parliament has passed a bill in this respect, based on a citizen initiative for which 3 million signatures have been raised. The referendum sparked fiery debates between the initiators, a Christian coalition primarily supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the supporters of sexual minority rights. The Romanians living abroad may vote in 378 polls hosted by diplomatic missions, consular offices, cultural institutes and other locations. The largest number of polls abroad will be in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the USA, UK, France and Germany. The referendum will be validated provided that at least 25% of the eligible voters cast valid votes.




    JUDICIARY – The former tourism minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the anti-mafia prosecutors office (DIICOT) Alina Bica, will be detained for 2 months pending an extradition decision, said on Thursday the Interpol office in Costa Rica, where the 2 were apprehended. They had both filed asylum applications in that country. Elena Udrea has received a final 6-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court for bribe taking and abuse of office. The former head of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime, Alina Bica, was in turn sentenced to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting. Udrea and Bica are not the only former high-level officials that have fled the country to escape prison sentences for corruption offences. This is the case with the former mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, who is in Madagascar at present, and the former MP Sebastian Ghita, currently in Serbia.




    NOBEL – The Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, who treated sex violence victims in his home country, and Nadia Murad, a Kurdish human rights activist having survived Islamic State sexual slavery, are the winners of this years Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained that it has awarded the 2 “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Both had a crucial contribution to raising awareness with respect to this type of war crimes and in fighting them. The Nobel season ends this Monday with the award of the Economy Prize in Stockholm.




    EDUCATION – UNESCO estimates that 69 million teachers are still needed around the world, in order to reach the education targets set for the year 2030. The shortage of teaching staff particularly affects vulnerable categories, girls, children with disabilities, refugees and migrants, children from poor rural communities or isolated areas, the organisation warns on the International Education Day, celebrated today in Romania as well. In her message, PM Viorica Dăncilă said education is a chance for individual development and the foundation of a strong, developed country, with a voice heard at international level, like Romania. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that the education system must provide youth with the skills required in the labour market, including in terms of adjusting to the challenges of a digital society.




    FRIGATE – “King Ferdinand frigate is, as of Friday, under the Allied Sea Command (MARCOM) and carries out sea traffic surveillance missions in the Mediterranean, as part of Operation Sea Guardian, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Operation Sea Guardian was launched following the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016, to discourage threats against NATO partners, the said source added. The 240-strong crew of “King Ferdinand frigate will conduct missions in the Mediterranean, thus confirming Romanias status as a security provider holding operational platforms deployable in various unstable regions in the world, where NATO military presence is required for security reasons. The frigate will conclude its missions in the Mediterranean in late October.




    GUAM – Chisinau is hosting today a meeting of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM heads of government. The organisation comprises the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova. Participants will discuss topics of mutual interest for the member states, with a view to improving cooperation between the 4 states, and will sign a cooperation protocol in the field of customs, Chisinau announced. On the sidelines of the summit, the Moldovan PM Pavel Filip will have meetings with his counterpart in Ukraine and Georgia, Volodimir Groisman and Mamuka Bakhtadze, and with the deputy PM of Azerbaijan, Ali Akhmedov. The Republic of Moldova this year is holding the rotating presidency of GUAM, an organisation created in 1997 as an alternative to the Community of Independent States.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • September 18, 2018

    September 18, 2018

    Three Seas Initiative — The Three Seas Initiative summit continues Tuesday in Bucharest with a plenary session devoted to energy, transports and digital interconnection. The summit was opened on Monday by a Business Forum, when the participants signed a Joint Declaration on the setting up of a network of Chambers of Commerce of the Three Seas Initiative as well as a Letter of Intent related to the creation of an investment fund of the same initiative. President Klaus Iohannis has pointed out that the Three Seas Initiative needed to go to another level, that of concrete economic projects and pragmatic results. Three Seas Initiative is a flexible political platform at presidential level that gathers 12 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas.



    Referendum — The Romanian government is today discussing the technical aspects related to the organization of the referendum on redefining the concept of family. On Monday, Romania’s Constitutional Court decided that the law for the revision of the Constitution which stipulates that the family is based on the freely consented union between a man and a woman, and not between spouses as it is stipulated at present, observes constitutional provisions. The government is to establish a date for the referendum and other technical, administrative and financial aspects. The campaign will start upon the announcement of the date of the referendum. The law for the revision of the Constitution in the sense of redefining the concept of family is based on a citizens’ initiative of some Christian organizations that managed to obtain 3 million signatures. The initiative is being contested by the associations defending the civil rights and liberties, including those of sexual minorities.



    CCR — Romania’s Constitutional Court is today discussing the notifications made by President Klaus Iohannis in relation to the changes brought to the Law on the status of judges and prosecutors and the Law on the Superior Council of Magistracy. Among the articles contested by the presidency are those related to cases of dismissal of judges and prosecutors, to the elimination of the written examination for promotion to the position of judge at the High Court of Cassation and Justice, to the impairment of the constitutional role of the Supreme Council of Magistracy as a guarantor of the independence of the judiciary, as well as to the functioning of the Judicial Inspection. Klaus Iohannis has toughly criticized the modifications brought to the criminal legislation. They have been also contested by the opposition parties and the High Court of Cassation and Justice that have, in turn, submitted notifications to the Constitutional Court of Romania.



    Eurostat — 48% of Bucharest’s inhabitants are discontented with the schools and education facilities in their city, show data published by Eurostat based on a 2015 survey that covered 24 EU capitals. Alongside Bucharesters, the Europeans who are the most discontented with the schools in their city are the inhabitants of Sofia, Bulgaria (47%). In exchange, the inhabitants of Dublin, Ljubljana, Nicosia and Helsinki are content with their schools. As for public transportation, the highest level of contentment was reported in Zurich (97%), Vienna (95%) and Helsinki (93%). At the other end, the most discontented with public transportation are the inhabitants of 16 cities among which Athens, Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Riga, Bratislava and Rome. The biggest differences have been reported in terms of air quality, the highest number the inhabitants discontented with the air quality being in Krakow, Ostrava and Bucharest. In 62 cities most respondents said they were content with the level of noise while the citizens of Istanbul, Bucharest, Palermo and Athens are among those most discontented with the noise level.



    Rome — The Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader continues, Tuesday, his visit to Rome, at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Alfondo Bonafede. On Monday, after the visit to a penitentiary with almost 100 Romanian detainees, the two ministers talked about bilateral cooperation and collaboration during Romania’s presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019. They also tackled issues related to the transfer of convicts from one country to another as well as the situation of minors from mixed families in which parents are in conflict. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • September 17, 2018 UPDATE

    September 17, 2018 UPDATE

    Three Seas Initiative — Romania is interested in maintaining a robust and operational trans-Atlantic relation which is vital for the system of values of the western civilization, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated on Monday in Bucharest on the occasion of the Three Seas Initiative Summit. According to President Iohannis a good way to bridge the economic development gap between the old and new EU members is to boost interconnectivity in the region of the three seas, first and foremost in the energy, transport and digital fields. The first edition of the Initiative Business Forum has been held on the sidelines of the event. The President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker is for the first time participating in this summit. Three Seas Initiative is a flexible political platform at presidential level that gathers 12 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas.



    EBRD — The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila on Monday held talks in Bucharest with a delegation headed by the president of the EBRD Suma Chakrabarti about future cooperation for the modernization of the hospital network in Romania and for funding infrastructure projects. According to a government communiqué, the talks focused on the public-private partnership, the internationalization of Romanian companies, the involvement of the EBRD in structuring and making operational the future Sovereign Fund as well as on the prospects of setting up a Development Bank. So far the EBRD has invested almost 8 billion Euros in Romania, in over 400 projects, the Romanian government reports.



    Ambassador — The Foreign Policy Committee in the Romanian Senate sent a letter to the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu asking him to assess to what extent maintaining George Maior in the position of Romania’s ambassador to the US is still beneficial to Romania’s interests. The speaker of the Senate Calin Popescu Tariceanu said that Maior’s activity as ambassador is not outstanding and criticized him for having made uninspired declarations regarding a recent letter of the former mayor of New York Rudolph Giuliani. Calin Popescu Tariceanu announced his intention to ask the foreign minister to recall George Maior, who actually rejected all accusations brought against him. A former federal prosecutor, Rudolph Giuliani, who is currently one of the lawyers of President Donald Trump, has recently sent the Romanian President a letter in which he denounced certain abuses of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and expressed concern with the consequences of the secret protocols concluded by several public institutions with the Romanian Intelligence Service. George Maior then said that the letter was the result of the lobby initiated by certain people interested in defending people from Romania with legal problems.



    Eurostat — In August Romania reported, for the 7th consecutive month, the highest annual inflation rate within the EU, show data published on Monday by Eurostat. Consumption prices went up in August by 4.7% after in July the annual inflation rate had reached 4.3%. At the EU level, in the same month, the annual inflation rate reached 2.1%. Romania is followed by Bulgaria and Estonia in the classification of EU members with the highest annual inflation rates.



    EU Council — The Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici on Monday said that Romania would have the role of mediator in its capacity as president of the EU Council in the first 6 months of 2019. He said that Romania should have a balanced approach in promoting the European interests. Romania’s responsibility will be great as, through the Finance Ministry, it will also hold the presidency of the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank, minister Teodorovici added. (news updated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • September 16, 2018 UPDATE

    September 16, 2018 UPDATE

    SUMMIT – The Romanian capital city Bucharest is hosting on Monday and Tuesday the 3rd Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, an informal president-level platform that brings together the 12 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea, namely Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. According to the presidential administration, the main goal of the initiative is the economic development of these countries, by enhancing interconnectivity, particularly from north to south, in 3 major areas: transport, energy, and digital. On the sidelines of the Summit, the first Business Forum of this platform will be held. President Klaus Iohannis will open the Forum on Monday, and later on he will take part in a plenary meeting alongside his counterparts from Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Poland – Andrzej Duda, Austria – Alexander van der Bellen, and the European Commissioner for Regional Development Corina Creţu. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will attend the Three Seas Initiative Summit for the first time. The first two summits were held in Dubrovnik in 2016 and in Warsaw in 2017.




    SWINE FEVER – A first African swine fever outbreak was confirmed on Sunday in Dambovita County, in the south of Romania. Thirteen counties are currently affected by the epidemic, most of them in the south-east and south. The number of outbreaks reaches 900, with the virus identified in over 200 localities. Hundreds of thousands of animals have been culled. Bucharest has requested financial support from the European Commission for the farmers affected by the African swine fever epidemic.




    REFERENDUM – The Constitutional Court of Romania is discussing on Monday a bill designed to redefine family, in the Constitution, as based on the marriage of a man and a woman. The bill was passed in the Senate on Tuesday, and requires validation through a referendum. It is based on a citizen initiative signed by 3 million people. The initiators, which are Christian organisations and associations, want the Constitution to narrow down the definition of family to the marriage between a man and a woman, so as to prevent the possibility of legalising same-sex marriage. ACCEPT Association, which promotes the rights of sexual minorities, says that Tuesdays vote in the Senate has turned homophobia into a principle safeguarded by the state, and that constitutional protection for many types of families in Romania will be sacrificed. Except for Save Romania Union, all parliamentary parties have supported the initiative.





    JUDICIARY – Romanian magistrates Sunday protested in Bucharest against the latest changes to the criminal codes and the justice laws. The magistrates are also discontent with the extension of judicial inspection mandates through a government emergency order and with the authorities disregard of the Venice Commission recommendations. Promoted by the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the legislative changes are criticised by the right-of-centre Opposition, the mass media and civil society, which accuse Power of trying to hinder the fight against corruption and to overpower the judiciary. Just days ago, representatives of the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, were in Bucharest to draft a report on the changes operated by Parliament on the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.




    ATTACK – The US Embassy is updated on the situation of the 2 American basketball players, aged 24 and 25 respectively, and playing for a team in Braila, south-eastern Romania, and is closely monitoring the incident in which they were injured, the American diplomatic mission announced. The two were stabbed on Saturday night during a conflict that broke out in a bar in the city centre. One of them is in a serious condition, with a punctured lung, and has been transferred to Bucharest. The 2 had been transferred to the club in Braila just one month before. The Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, who was playing for Veszprem, was killed in a bar in the same city, on February 8, 2009, by attackers who stabbed him to death.




    TENNIS – Romanias mens tennis team was defeated by Poland, 3-2, on Sunday in Cluj-Napoca, north-western Romania, in the Davis Cups 3rd round, Group II, Europe-Africa zone, after Kamil Majchrzak outplayed Adrian Ungur in the decisive match. Also on Sunday, Hubert Hurkacz beat Marius Copil, while the Romanians Florin Mergea and Horia Tecău won the doubles match against Lukasz Kubot/Marcin Matkowski. After Saturdays matches, the score was 1-1. Thanks to this performance, Poland moves up into Group I, Europe/Africa zone of Davis Cup, of which Romania fell out at the end of last year.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • September 11, 2018 UPDATE

    September 11, 2018 UPDATE

    VISIT – The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, had talks in Bucharest on Tuesday with his Romanian counterpart, Viorica Dăncilă. The latter said that during the Romanian presidency of the EU Council in the first half of next year, Romania will pay special attention to the negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework for 2021-2027. PM Dǎncilǎ also added that the goal of strengthening the EU domestic security will be one of Romanias priorities during its presidential term. In turn, the Slovak PM, Peter Pellegrini underlined that Slovakia supports Romania in its effort to join Schengen, adding that an extension of the free movement area is needed to better protect the EU. In terms of bilateral relations, Viorica Dăncilă and Peter Pellegrini discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of defence and energy. A bilateral cooperation protocol was signed, which will benefit the Romanian workers employed in Slovakia, as well as a ministry-level Education Cooperation Programme. Also on Tuesday, PM Peter Pellegrini was received by President Klaus Iohannis, for talks on topical issues.




    ROMANIAN-DUTCH RELATIONS – Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, will receive in Bucharest on Wednesday the Dutch PM, Mark Rutte. According to a communiqué released by the Presidential Administration, the stage of bilateral relations and the focal points on the European agenda will be approached during the talks. The Romanian presidency of the Eu Council, in the first half of 2019, the future EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, ways to tackle migration and Brexit will also be on the agenda of talks, according to the Presidential Administration.



    CONSULTATIONS – The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday received the foreign ministers of Poland, Jacek Czaputowicz, and Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu, accompanied by their Romanian counterpart Teodor Meleşcanu, who had taken part in an informal three-party meeting on security-related topics. According to the Presidential Administration, the talks focused on the main means of cooperation in this format, launched in 2012 at Romanias initiative in order to promote the regional and international security agenda, working on the conclusions of the NATO summit in Brussels in July. Jacek Czaputowicz and Mevlut Cavuşoglu pointed out that Romania is a trustworthy ally and partner, with which they share similar security assessments. Also on Tuesday, on the side lines of the consultations, ministers Jacek Czaputowicz and Mevlut Cavuşoglu had talks with PM Viorica Dăncilă. The three-party meeting in Bucharest between Romania, Turkey and Poland is the 5th in this format, the previous one being held in Warsaw last year.



    PARLIAMENT – The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest on Tuesday discussed a simple motion tabled by the National Liberal Party, in Opposition, against the Interior Minister Carmen Dan. The motion, entitled “The Social Democratic Partys batons, a slap in the face of Romanian democracy, will be voted upon on Wednesday. The Liberals accuse Carmen Dan of having coordinated the brutal intervention against the participants in the anti-governmental protests of August 10th in Bucharest. On Monday, hundreds of people protested again, in the same place, and demanded the resignation of the Cabinet and of those responsible for the gendarme intervention. More than 400 people were injured a month ago, and the General Prosecutors Office initiated hearings in the case, with the Mayor General of Bucharest Gabriela Firea also heard. She requested the resignation of the Interior Minister, who, Firea claims, is trying to pass responsibility for the brutal gendarme intervention to the prefect of Bucharest. So far 770 victims of the clashes have filed criminal complaints. The Senates defence committee is also holding hearings concerning the protests of August 10th.



    FAMILY-The Romanian Senate, as a decision making forum, on Tuesday adopted a proposal to revise the Constitution in order to redefine the concept of family, with 107 “yeas and 13 “nays. The leader of the Social Democratic Party, the senior member of the ruling coalition, Liviu Dragnea, in his capacity as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, has recently announced the referendum on family will be held on October 7. Several NGOs, grouped into the so-called “Coalition for Family, have collected some three millions signatures, in order to hold a referendum to block same-sex marriages. In its current form, the Constitution stipulates that the family is based on the freely consented marriage between spouses, whereas the “Coalition for Family would like the text to stipulate the marriage between a man and a woman.



    9/11 – Leading politicians in Bucharest have expressed solidarity with the American people, on the day when the country commemorates the tragedy of September 11 2001, and have reiterated Romanias commitment to fighting “against the common threat of terrorism. The entire international community commemorates 17 years since the terrorist attacks in the US, when around 3,000 people were killed, including 5 Romanian nationals.



    RUSSIA – Russia on Tuesday launched the largest-scale military moves in its history, criticised by NATO as a rehearsal for a major conflict. According to the Russian defence ministry, around 300,000 troops will take part, including Chinese and Mongolian forces, 36,000 vehicles, 1,000 aircraft and 80 sea vessels. The large drill, called East-2018, will take place until September 17, in eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East. The drills take place in the context of lingering tensions between Russia and the West, marked by the Ukrainian crisis, the conflict in Syria and countless allegations of Russia meddling with the domestic policy of other countries, including the US, international news agencies say. (Translated by AM Popescu and D. Vijeu)

  • Containing violence among children

    Containing violence among children

    A phenomenon that the Romanian society has become increasingly aware of, aggression among children or bullying is a multifaceted issue, which was analysed in a first survey launched and carried out by the “Save the Children NGO last year. Meanwhile, parents, educators and authorities organise various debates, trying to find the best ways to contain violence among children, which is a really worrying issue, given its magnitude, both in terms of the psychological consequences it produces and from a strictly statistical perspective. In schools, 3 in 10 children are excluded from their group of colleagues, 3 in 10 children are threatened by their colleagues and 1 in 4 children has been humiliated in front of his or her colleagues. These are some of the conclusions drawn in the survey carried out by “Save the Children. Oana Niculae, a paediatric psychiatrist with the aforementioned NGO has more on this:



    Oana Niculae: “What concerns me the most is that 70% of children say they have witnessed bullying. (…) In my opinion, every child who takes part in or witnesses this type of aggression is a victim. Our children are permanently witnessing bullying, most likely than not as often as on a weekly basis.“



    Under these circumstances, what is the reaction of some parents whose children have been aggressed? Ana Maria Mitruş, the author of the blog meseriadeparinte.ro, says her eldest daughter, a fifth grader, has been the target of bullying. Here she is with details:



    Ana Maria Mitruş: “My daughter has somehow been the target of attacks made by older female colleagues. In my opinion, these were acts of wickedness meant to establish hierarchies among children. This means that older pupils do not let younger ones to go up, to the higher floors, where there are the classrooms of the seventh and eighth graders. They are also denied access to the locker rooms. My eldest daughter has never changed clothes in the locker room since she became a fifth grader. She puts on her training suit at home, to be ready for the sports class. Her sports class unfolds simultaneously with that of older colleagues who push away younger girls from the locker rooms, so that they can change clothes. Children try to handle the issue the best they can.



    The mothers reaction was to get the school management involved in the issue, just like the rest of the parents, but to no avail. However, Ana Maria Mitruş has taught her daughters to ask for the help of adults instead of having a violent response, as would be their first impulse in such cases. This actually happened once: Ana Maria Mitrus daughter responded with aggression to an act of aggression against her. Shortly after that, she told her mother what had happened:



    Ana Maria Mitruş: “Fortunately, it was only a minor conflict, nothing serious. Im not afraid she might, in turn, become an aggressor. While her first reaction was to respond aggressively when being attacked, now after weve talked about it, she knows she should request the assistance of grown ups. But, although I have confidence in my daughters and in the way I have brought them up, I will not sit back and watch. That is why I maintain a close relation with the coaches and the teachers. In the end, our children are what we raise them to be. Whether they do good or bad things, the responsibility is ours, it lies with the parents.



    Actually, it is within a family that the origin of wickedness should be searched for. Schools are only compelled to keep violence from spreading.



    Oana Niculae: “No happy child will ever be aggressive. We, as experts, always turn to the family to search for the causes of aggressive behaviour. Unfortunately, most aggressiveness stems from fear rather than anger. Negative emotions are always externalised this way. The joy of hurting others originates in a direct, personal experience, that of having been hurt or of having experienced abuse from others.



    Unfortunately, as far as the adults involvement goes, the childrens perception is quite clear, as shown by the survey conducted by “Save the Children: they notice that adults are relatively tolerant of this phenomenon, and hardly ever step in. In spite of this, awareness raising campaigns and efforts to contain bullying started as early as 2004. Back then, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), jointly with UNICEF, launched a first survey about violence in schools. Ciprian Fartusnic, the current director of IES recalls:



    Ciprian Fartusnic: “When we conducted the first survey, one of the problems was that violence was defined too broadly. If an incident was not reported to the police, or if no blood had been shed, the incident was not rated as violence, but as a misunderstanding among children. A first strategy on the issue was largely drafted based on the results of this survey, but it was only a framework strategy. The authors expected each school to follow the guidelines of this framework but to draft its own strategy against violence, adapted to the local problems. This didnt happen and thats why in 2006 our Institute and UNICEF put together a guidebook for headmasters, to show to them how to develop an anti-violence strategy in their school. Nothing major has happened. Therefore, in 2010, together with “Save the Children and the Education Ministry we drafted a national training program for headmasters and teachers, to show them how to approach the phenomenon of violence, step by step. (…) The project came to a close in 2011. Now we receive signals that, at least in some counties, specific activities have been organised in schools. But we are yet to find out whether, apart from raising awareness of the phenomenon, these activities do have a direct and measurable impact in curbing the phenomenon.



    However, prevention is more efficient than any efforts to contain the phenomenon or any post-factum intervention. Therefore, education experts say school efforts should be channelled towards prevention: stifling and controlling from the very beginning childrens first urges to humiliate, harass and attack their peers.


    (translated by: Diana Vijeu)

  • How do we define family?

    How do we define family?

    A few million Romanians have already signed a
    citizens’ initiative to revise the definition of the family in the Constitution
    as being based on the free-consensual marriage between a man and a woman
    instead of between spouses, the definition in use at present. The initiative
    is spearheaded by the Coalition for Family. According to the chairman of the
    Committee for Constitutional Initiative, Mihai Gheorghiu, this is a premiere at
    national and European level, enjoying the support of both the Orthodox
    community and the Catholic and Protestant religious denominations. This is the
    first time in the history of modern Romania that three million people have
    called for a revision of the Constitution. This effort cannot be overlooked and
    the project will be discussed, although everyone keeps silent about it, which
    cannot be a good sign, Mihai Gheorghiu said when the initiative was tabled to
    the Senate.




    Meanwhile, things have progressed a great deal,
    and the citizens’ initiative was this week passed by the Chamber of Deputies.
    Dan Barna, an MP with the Save Romania Union in opposition, the party that gave
    the most votes against the initiative, explained that while he respects
    citizens’ right of initiative, holding a referendum on this matter, as required
    by the law, would polarise society. Dan Barna:




    Is the traditional family an important value
    in our society? Without a doubt, yes. Is tolerance and respect for minority
    groups an important value in our society? Without a doubt, yes. Let’s be honest
    about it, this referendum compels Romanian citizens to prioritise the two
    values. This referendum will deepen the fracture existing in our society.




    The initiative is not targeting anyone in
    particular and is not an act of intolerance, Senator Varujan Vosganian with the
    Alliance of Liberals and Democrats has said:




    I never thought that the idea of maternity intertwined
    with the idea of paternity could be interpreted as an act of intolerance. In
    fact, this is what the human condition is built upon. Not to mention the
    tradition of our nation. Highlighting the fact that a child should call one
    parent mother and the other father is not an attack against someone, as
    everyone is free, under the Constitution, to live according to his or her own
    desires, abilities and preferences!




    Part of civil society has contested the
    initiative. One of the arguments against it is the fact that the definition it
    proposes is already included in the Civil Code, or that this undertaking might
    lead to difficult situations. For instance in the case of a man who has
    undergone sex reassignment surgery and who returns to Romania in order to make
    his relationship with a man official. The intervention of the Romanian Orthodox
    Church in this matter is seen as an attempt to restore Romanians’ trust in this
    institution. When priests across the country started gathering signatures in
    favour of the project, Patriarch Daniel explained that the traditional family
    finds itself in a fragile and difficult spot, because it is considered by many
    as obsolete and old-fashioned, and because we live in a world dominated by
    individualism and secularism that doesn’t strive for a life of prayer or
    raising children in the Christian faith. Therefore, the Patriarch argues, we
    must support the effort of defending the natural, traditional and universal
    family and resisting the new family models,
    which deem the union between man and woman as just one other possible model.




    Teodora Rosetti, a programme coordinator with
    ACCEPT Association spoke to Radio Romania about the view of her organisation,
    which has been advocating the rights of LGBT persons in Romania for the last 20
    years:




    ACCEPT sees this initiative as redundant, one that is aimed at
    stigmatising LGBT persons, as well as diverting public attention from the very
    serious problems the Romanian society and families are confronted with. The
    moment the entire debate is focused on this community, the community of gay,
    lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in Romania, while these persons are
    presented as a threat, a completely fictitious threat in our opinion, to the
    traditional family and its well-being, we basically channel the latent hatred
    in society, the hatred of people who are dissatisfied with other day-to-day
    matters, against this minority group, which in Romania is almost invisible,
    which has very few recognised rights, and which is facing major problems when
    it comes to being guaranteed the protection of the law, thus taking the debate
    away from the actual problems faced by
    family in Romania.




    Without
    denying the existence of the problems raised by Theodora Rosetti, the
    representative of the Coalition for Family Catalin Vasile says the move
    initiated in Parliament to redefine the concept of family was necessary for
    things to be clearly stipulated in the Constitution. He says that for marriage
    to remain a good environment for raising children and for the latter’s
    development and education it should be defined as the union between a man and a
    woman. If the proposal is also endorsed by the Senate, Romanians will vote on
    the matter in a referendum that has to be called within 30 days of the adoption
    of the bill.



  • May 10, 2017 UPDATE

    May 10, 2017 UPDATE

    CITIZEN INITIATIVE — The Chamber of Deputies has voted in favour of a citizen initiative to revise the definition of the term “family” in the Romanian Constitution. According to the initiative, family is based on the marriage between a man and a woman of their own consent, on equal rights between the two parties, as well as on the parents’ obligation to see to the upbringing, education and tuition of their children. The Senate is to debate and vote on this draft law.



    STRIKE — Employees of the Environment Law Enforcement Agency are as of Wednesday on an all-out strike indefinitely. Employees are unhappy with pay disparities in their line of work, considering that salaries haven’t been increased since 2009. During the strike, environment officers will come to work but will not receive public notifications or carry out inspections. Previously employees with the Environment Law Enforcement Agency went on a two-hour strike on April 2, aimed at making their salary demands heard. Despite this, trade unions in the field say lawmakers have not shown any interest in solving the existing problems, adding that the protest will continue until the Government will give assurances that their demands have been taken under advisement.



    KING’S DAY — Romania on Wednesday celebrated King’s Day, also coinciding with another two important moments in the country’s modern history. On May 10, 1866 King Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was sworn in as ruler of Romania. Also on this day in 1877 King Carol would proclaim the country’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, only to be crowned king four years later. May 10 was the National Day of Romania until 1947, when the communist regime forced King Mihai I into abdicating and subsequent exile. King Mihai returned to Romania only after the anti-communist revolution of 1989. The King is now seriously ill and has withdrawn from public life. Mihai has entrusted Crown Princess Margareta, the first born of his five daughters, custody of the Royal Crown.



    VISIT — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will receive in Bucharest on Thursday the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker. According to the Presidential Administration, talks will focus on issues of topical interest on the agenda of the future meetings of the European Council, such as the process of reflection on the future of the EU and Brexit negotiations. Other issues to be approached include the political priorities of the future presidency of the EU Council, to be held by Romania in the first half of 2019. Jean-Claude Juncker is also due to meet with Romanian PM Sorin Grindeanu and will address a plenary session of the Romanian Parliament, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Romania’s joining the EU.



    EBRD — Romanian economy might report a 4% growth this year as compared to the November estimate of 3.7%, reads a recent forecast of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This is the highest growth level among European states where the Bank is conducting its operations. Next year the GDP growth will slow down to 3.5%, consumption will continue to boost growth in 2017 and 2018, sustained by the rise in the minimum wage and public sector salaries. Government spending will probably spike in 2017, running the risk of exceeding the budget deficit target of 3% of the GDP, the EBRD has warned. In turn, the IMF has upgraded its forecast on Romanian economic growth this year, from 3.8% to 4.2%. The Romanian Government has grounded its budget planning for 2017 on a 5.2% economic growth forecast.



    WORK RESTRICTIONS — Switzerland on Wednesday decided to activate a clause stipulated in the EU Agreement providing for a temporary introduction of restrictions on the Swiss labour market for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has expressed regret over the decision. When Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU, Switzerland introduced restrictions, limiting the access of those countries’ citizens on the Swiss labour market. Those restrictions were however lifted in June 2016. Back then, the Swiss government warned that in case the inflow of migrants from the two countries exceeded 10% of the past three years’ average figures, on June 1, 2017, or on June 1st 2018, at the latest, the Federal Council will be able to impose new restrictions on the domestic labour market, valid until May 31, 2019. (Translated by V. Palcu and D. Vijeu)