The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and the Committee of Human Rights Lawyers condemn the violent behaviour of the Prokuplje Primary School “9. oktobar” pupils and appeal to the competent state authorities to as soon as possible undertake measures to prevent, investigate and penalise this and similar violent incidents, which have been increasingly breaking out in educational institutions. Measures must be taken against those who had committed acts of violent behaviour, but our primary responsibility is prevent the occurrence of such acts in the first place, to instil socially responsible attitudes and mindsets in our children already in the early stages of their socialisation. The competent authorities, the schools, the parents and the children alike, need to act in concert to reduce the degree of violence in schools. We call on all schools to ensure that children are safe in school, to create conditions for the development of cooperation, dialogue and solidarity among the pupils and to respond immediately to any problems that may arise. We call on the parents to constantly talk with their children about the negative effects of violent behaviour, develop their awareness of the need for non-violent conflict resolution and alert them to the penalties awaiting those who opt for violence We have to fight for violence-free schools because only in such schools will the children of today grow up to be responsible citizens of tomorrow.
