The Lower Silesian Voivode Anna Żabska has announced the establishment of a special working group that will develop tools and recommendations for local authorities in Lower Silesia. The group’s aim will be to support schools, children and parents in combating hate speech and peer violence. This is the key conclusion from a meeting initiated by the voivode and held in Wrocław with the participation of deputy mayors of the region’s largest cities, representatives of the regional authorities, the education superintendent’s office and the police.
As reported on gov.pl: – The impetus for taking action was the tragic death of a schoolgirl from Wałbrzych, which may have been contributed to by prolonged exposure to hate. The meeting was a working session – it focused on sharing experiences and good practices, discussing existing challenges and the needs faced by teachers, parents and local officials.
– Coordinated action by all institutions is needed. We discussed what legal education for children and young people should look like, how to share effective practices, and how to raise awareness among students, teachers and parents of the problem of hate. I declare the full support of the government administration. The team I am establishing will operate systemically – said Voivode Anna Żabska.
In addition to representatives of local authorities and the education superintendent’s office, the team will also include specialists in child psychiatry and psychology in Lower Silesia. The group is to develop practical guidelines and proposals for action that all local authorities and schools in the region will be able to use. The team is to develop solutions under which municipalities will support one another not only with experience, but also with experts, so that no local authority is left without support and tools in the fight against hate.
– We want parents, teachers and children to know whom to turn to in a situation involving hate. Systemic action is needed. I assure you that later this year, at conferences organised by the education superintendent’s office, each party will receive specific, proven practices for supporting children and young people. We hope that these difficult situations will also mobilise young people themselves to support one another. We must reach everyone – parents also play a major role, because they are responsible for raising their children, while the school is a supporting institution – emphasises Ewa Skrzywanek, the Lower Silesian education superintendent.
The regional authorities announced that nearly PLN 5 million would be allocated in 2025 for psychological and therapeutic support for children and young people. The funds will go to counties and be distributed among 49 psychological and pedagogical counselling centres throughout the voivodeship. The programme will include both individual and group meetings with students.
Joint action by government and local authorities is intended to improve children’s safety in schools, ensure a more effective response to violence and hate, and strengthen the parenting and educational skills of teachers and parents.