OMBUDSMAN CONDEMNS POLITICAL USE OF CHILDREN

It is "outrageous, immoral and demeaning" to use children to improve one's image. This statement was made by the Children's Ombudsman, Maia Banarescu, after a photo which shows two children with the mayor of the village and a representative of the party at the opening ceremony of a toilet in the school appeared on the Internet.

She condemned any action of the kind with the aim "both, to raise public awareness or create a positive image."

"Children should not be seen as a means for collecting votes. Children also have rights and human dignity, which adults are obliged to regard and treat them with respect, love, care and attention, the people's advocate emphasized.

The Ombudsman suggested to the candidates for the upcoming presidential elections and their teams "to abandon the vicious practice."