Prime Minister Edi Rama has warned that society risks normalising violence and turning it into a tool for settling disputes with teachers, university lecturers and public institutions.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Council for the Rights and Protection of Children on October 30, Rama called for a joint action plan involving state institutions, civil society and international partners. The meeting focused on recent events and the need to strengthen efforts to protect children.

Rama said the latest developments had revealed a worrying attitude towards violence. He argued that some sections of society had begun to downplay, justify and even glorify violent behaviour.

He also criticised what he described as misleading messages surrounding the protests, saying they had contributed to the stigmatisation of the State Police.

Furthermore, Rama said some individuals who had defended schools, education, freedom of expression, peaceful protest and private property had faced criticism, while others had gained public and media recognition for their positions.

The prime minister stressed that public criticism alone would not prevent the problem from spreading. Instead, he called for a broader approach to stop violence from becoming an accepted form of social reaction.

Rama warned that young people could misunderstand this message and use violence against anyone they considered an obstacle.

He specifically mentioned teachers, university lecturers, universities and business owners as potential targets if society began to accept violence as a legitimate way to express disagreement.

The meeting brought together representatives of independent institutions, civil society organisations and international bodies to discuss coordinated measures for protecting children’s rights and addressing the challenges facing society.

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