Global changes bring new threats, including easy access to inappropriate content. In response, coordinated actions are needed to safeguard children and young people. This stance was emphasized by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the President of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek, during a Friday session in the Sejm.
The prime minister and the marshal participated in a meeting framed by the initiative “Let’s protect children, let’s support parents.”
Elżbieta Witek recalled that on March 24 experts, teachers, doctors, representatives of non-governmental organizations, local authorities, and others involved in helping children gathered in the Sejm to discuss the challenges and threats facing the younger generation in today’s world.
The conference under the motto “Let’s protect children, let’s support parents” also saw participation from government ministers and deputies: Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg, Minister of Education and Science Przemysław Czarnek, and Deputy Ministers Marzena Machałek, Waldemar Kraska, and Blazej Poboża, who oversee education, health, and internal affairs respectively.
The prime minister underscored the government’s ongoing efforts to assist Polish youth and families. He noted that today’s gathering was designed so the prime minister, as head of government, could hear the concerns raised at the March 24 meeting and the conclusions drawn from them.
Witek emphasized the necessity of joint actions, pointing out that both the physical and mental well-being of children and youths is deteriorating in some cases. She highlighted that youth and children are the country’s future and that it is essential to allocate time and resources to this topic. The March 24 conference demonstrated the need for sustained dialogue and coordinated measures.
She also indicated that in many instances the conclusions from the meeting are already being implemented by individual ministries, signaling progress across different sectors.
Witek expressed hope that concrete solutions would soon be presented to support children, young people, and also parents.
Education remains a challenging field that rests on parents, yet it is the responsibility of schools and institutions working with young people to back parents in guiding their children’s development. This goal anchors the campaign “Let’s protect children, let’s support parents.”
The discussion shifted to the role of the internet, smartphones, and the virtual world. The prime minister noted that many challenges faced by societies, not only in Poland but worldwide, stem from the rapid changes in digital life brought by the pandemic era and the expanding online landscape. A significant portion of youth activity now occurs in the virtual realm, and not all of it is positive.
Consequently, the government, through the Council of Ministers, has developed legislation to shield children and young people from pornographic and highly inappropriate content. The prime minister added that additional psychologists and child educators have been appointed in schools to strengthen support networks for students.
Morawiecki thanked Marshal Witek for organizing the meeting and coordinating related activities. He noted that a recent discussion with the Parent Council aligned with the broader agenda, and that efforts to accelerate legislation on multiple fronts would continue.
The overarching aim, as stated, is to protect children and to support parents in their parenting journey.
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Source: wPolityce