OSCE Mission to Skopje brings police and school children together for lessons on safety

SKOPJE, 30 May 2007 - Helping 2,000 school children learn about personal and public safety was the aim of a series of presentations given by police officers in 16 elementary schools in the Skopje municipality of Saraj that concluded today.

The presentations, held as part of a project that was initiated by the municipality and supported by the OSCE Mission to Skopje, included seminars that aimed to reduce violence in schools through improving co-operation between police, parents and pupils. The school children also learned more about the day-to-day work of police.

"This important initiative emphasizes that whereas people have rights, they also have responsibilities towards each other and society," said Philip Tolson, Head of the Police Development Unit of the OSCE Mission.

The mayor of Saraj, Bekim Fazliu, added: "Raising awareness about violence in schools is a task that should target not only pupils but the entire community as well."

"We plan to organize meetings at which school principals, parents, police officers and pupils can discuss further co-operation with the OSCE Mission and the police."