2023-09-15 14:25:56
After schools were once again the target of arson and vandalism in the Charleroi region and Liège, last night, the political class was unanimous in denouncing these acts. EVRAS, the educational activity in relational, emotional and sexual life was even on the menu of the Council of Ministers this Friday morning.
I will be clear, in a democracy like ours, we do not accept that schools are a target.
This is what Alexander De Croo, the Prime Minister, declared at the start of the press conference. “We live in a country where there is tolerance, where debate exists and where we can have different points of view, but this should never lead to violence and certainly not in places that our children frequent. ” HASbefore adding “Sexual education has existed for 50 years in Belgium. It is the basis of sexual health, it is also the basis for making our children aware of their rights and their integrity.”
Reinforcement of federal police in affected local areas
OCAM, the Threat Coordination and Analysis Body, was asked to take stock of the situation. The federal police will be sent to reinforce the local areas concerned. “We are currently looking for the people behind these fires. We have surveillance images which have not yet made it possible to identify the perpetrators of these criminal acts in Wallonia. But the police and the prosecution are doing everything to have short-term results and take legal action. For the safety of our children, I asked the federal police to support the local police areas concerned.”explains Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), the Minister of the Interior.
A meeting also took place this morning, coordinated by the crisis center. It brought together security and intelligence services such as OCAM, State Security, but also the police to take stock of the situation and the measures to be taken. “Contact and close communication are now required between schools, education officials such as aldermen, the Minister of Education in the French Community and the security services. We will monitor the situation in the hours and days to come. A new consultation meeting is already scheduled for Monday on this subject“, adds the Minister of the Interior.
There is no reason to panic or worry, but you must remain alert.
adds, Annelies Verlinden. This Sunday, a new demonstration to oppose EVRAS activities in schools is announced in the city center of Brussels. A demonstration followed and closely supervised by the federal and local authorities and the Brussels-Ixelles police zone.
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