Moldova is among the countries with a very high level in terms of family violence and aggressiveness against children. In different sitations we are used to blame others, but in this one we are all guilty. Our mentality and poor education regarding coexistence in the family make us look like medieval people when we study the statistics of domestic violence cases presented, writes Vlad Plahotniuc on his blog.

It’s unacceptable nowadays, having access to education, information, communication, dialogue in the family, we still replace it with aggression and violence. We can not blame politics, geopolitics and other stereotypes for this, which sometimes creates comfort and lack of responsibility. We must blame only our passivity and misunderstanding role that we all play in this phenomenon.

I was born in a poor family with 6 children, where the needs were very high and there were few solutions. The times were like this. My father was very tough with us, otherwise 6 children can be very messy. But he never showed his toughness by violence, he went by the quote “Work educates”.

We needed to work to help in the household. In fact everybody was working in the country and sometimes we were disobedient and worked more and more. We were a happy case, in many other families the violence was at its home. I had colleagues who came to school with bruises and it seemed normal to everyone. It sadder when you think that not much has changed. I have read the recent study where the interviewed parents admitted that they have beaten their children and they are convinced that this is the only working solution.

What expectations can a small child have, who learns that physical punishment is educative or a corrective solution? Most likely he would do the same with his children when he becomes a father, and the legacy of past aggression will brought till today. When the new openings somehow passed Moldova by. I know there are many parents who disapprove children violence, but unfortunately we are judged by the extent of this phenomenon in society, which is very high. We must start actively condemning any form of violence in the family, and stop being detached, just because it happens in other families and it's not our job. It is our job to have a healthy society, children who grow normally, untraumatized, who can represent a healthy future for our country.

Together with the Edelweiss foundation, from tomorrow we will start a large-scale social campaign, which aims to raise awareness about violence against children, violence in the family. We will launch more social clips, we will create psychological counseling centers, we will suggest legislative improvements, we will be actively involved in combating this phenomenon, we asked the responsible institutions to also do their duty.

A strong national solidarity against this serious phenomenon is required, a mindset change, this stereotype that we watch what is happening around us and start being active. It concerns all of us when there are maltreated children in families who end up having violent behaviours when they become adults! It is time to move from findings to action to get involved in combating violence all.

Remember that time can not be returned, and some things can not be repaired.

Get involved now, to create a future without violence, together!