EDUCATION WITH TAPED MOUTH

Bucharest the 17^thof December 2012.In Romania the year 2012, the education of children is carried out through the 'free development, integral and harmonious human individuality' (National Education Law 1/2011), with adhesive tape to the mouth.

Monday the 17^thDecember 2012, the European Centre for the Rights of Children with Disabilities (CEEDCD) was brought forth the case of an 8 year old boy from Bucharestwith Down syndrome. The little boy was the subject of humiliation at the school he went to.

Mihai is the first grade pupil of a school from Bucharest and, in spite of the fact that he was born with Down syndrome, after years of individual effort by the parents; the child is able to follow the courses of the public mass educational school.

From the moment the mother registered the boy to school, she had to face discrimination and humiliation of her child, Mihai being forced to move from class to class because o his disability. More then that, she found out that her child had been repeatedly hit over the face and the back of the head and that sometimes the teacher would tape his mouth during class.

“We are revolted by the abusive and humiliating situation a child with Down syndrome has been put through in an educational establishment in 2012 Romania. We consider that such acts not only break a series of principles and fundamental rights, but also are subject of the criminal law and should be sanctioned as such. Such actions are intolerable and CEDCD will take measures in this regard. The humiliation of children with disabilities should cease under any aspect and in any field of social life.” says Madalina TURZA, CEDCD president.

CEDCD notified the School Inspectorate of Bucharest Municipality regarding the situation of the Down syndrome boy and will take all measures necessary to ensure that its rights are safeguarded.