MPs warn of rise in peer violence online

"Peer violence is increasingly spreading to the virtual sphere," said Veljko Kajtazi, who represents ethnic minorities, stressing the need for education about internet safety. "Hateful and offensive language on the screen is no less painful for the victims. Children are increasingly encountering online bullying, threats and abuse," he added.

Ermina Lekaj-Prljaskaj from the group of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and independent MPs, also drew attention to increased violence via the internet. "Prevention requires education at all levels of society," she said, adding that violence must not t be ignored.

Stipo Mlinaric (Homeland Movement) said that children cannot stand up to violence on their own but need support from their parents, teachers and professionals who, he added, should strongly condemn any form of violence.

Mlinaric accused the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) as generators of peer violence in the Eastern Slavonia region because of segregated schools for ethnic Serb and ethnic Croat children there. "From their earliest age, children there live in parallel worlds, they do not socialise, and when they fight, then the blame is on sport fans."

Wearing a symbolic pink T-shirt, SDSS MP Dragana Jeckov appealed for liberalization of coronavirus restrictions with regard to the border crossing regime to make life easier for people in border areas and for students studying in neighboring countries.