Social Issues

Freedom of Information, FOI, Laws in the Western Balkans are over a decade old. Even though almost all countries monitored by BIRN have laws that are considered well-written, their value is often only on paper, speakers from the region told BIRN's panel discussion, "Freedom of Information in the Balkans: Calls Not Answered".

Commenting last week on the nondisclosure of the name of the private school where six students tied up a classmate with fishing line and the frenzy concerning personal data in Greece, I wrote that "soon, the news will say, 'Somewhere, some people tied someone up with fishing line.'"

The increase in violence and bullying at Greek schools is not and should not be treated as a public order issue.

Educators should have the tools to mobilize the school community and social services when they see a student showing problematic behavior, before the problem reaches the police. 

Schools themselves need to be strengthened to control the bullying epidemic.

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian parliamentary committee on Kosovo-Metohija Milovan Drecun said on Wednesday the tactic employed by Pristina's PM Albin Kurti was geared not only towards intimidating Serbs but also towards an attempt of completing the ethnic cleansing underway in Kosovo-Metohija for years.

In the latest incident of teen bullying, two boys aged 15 and 14 were arrested over the weekend and taken to a local police precinct for abusing two other minors, aged 14 and 12, in the northern suburb of Kifissia.

The pair are accused of approaching the two minors in a public area and threatening them with a sharp metallic object. T

Violence among teenagers is starting to reach epidemic proportions. But it should not become routine. 

Parents, educators, the state and experts - all need to come together in a campaign to convince our children that violence and bullying is not cool. Quite the opposite.

Greek police officers on Thursday morning arrested 10 people who took part in a sit-in inside the main building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) to protest a deadly train collision on Feb. 28.

A 44-year-old Taekwondo coach accused by five former students of raping them when they were minors over a period of 11 years was sent to jail after testifying for several hours before an investigative magistrate on Monday.

In the report prepared by the Women's Platform for Equality (EŞİK), it is emphasized that the prevalent gender inequality and discrimination deepen in times of disaster.

The report, which also includes the narratives and observations of EŞİK representatives in the region, commented that "gender even determines the places where women die."

The Hellenic Union for Human and Civil Rights (ELEDAP) sent an open letter to Citizens' Protection Minister Takis Theodorikakos regarding reports of police violence during demonstrations following the train crash at Tempe on February 28.