Break the Chain! Say NO To Corruption!
The second Anti-Corruption Class “Break the Chain! Say NO To Corruption” was held on 14 April 2019 at the Gymnasium “Isidora Sekulic” in Novi Sad attended by more than 230 students of the final grades and their teachers from high schools from Vojvodina region.
The Prosecutors, the police officers and the judges who are fighting corruption every day, representatives of the Anti-Corruption Agency and representatives of civil society organizations the Transparency Serbia and the "Pištaljka" discussed all aspects of corruption - how to recognize, to whom to report, as well as the prevention of this harmful social phenomenon with students and their teachers from 51 high schools from Novi Sad, Bač, Bačka Palanka, Bački Petrovac, Bečej, Vrbas, Žabalj, Sremski Karlovci, Srbobran, Titel, Temerin, Inđija, Stara Pazova, Irig, Pećinci, Ruma, Sremska Mitrovica, Šid and Futog.
Mr. Zdravko Jelusic, the President of the Assembly of the City of Novi Sad addressed to students and said that building a better society is very important for young people to recognize forms of corruption.
"Today you have a chance to take an active part in creating your and our future, because you will very soon be the strength in this country that will make decisions and make a better society. City of Novi Sad will always support activities that aim to create more a better city, so that Novi Sad is not going to be remembered only because this year is the European Youth Capital of Europe or the European Capital of Culture 2021, but also as a city in Serbia with all the European values we are aiming for. I invite you to actively participate in the fight against corruption, "said Jelusic.
Mr. Radomir Ilic, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice stressed that the fight against corruption means "firm anti-corruption institutions and the construction of these institutions".
"What we have built up to now, it is up to you to continue and build better," Ilic said. He pointed out that the new organization of state institutions has contributed to an efficient and effective judiciary that gives results in the fight against corruption, and that a final verdict is reached in less than a month.
"Now the police are arresting, the prosecution sues, and the court actively adjudicates and condemns the criminals who stole the state and people. For cases where somebody report doctor's corruption have final verdict in less than a month, because we have specialized institutions who know their work, are not burdened with other cases, which, therefore, have time to deal with anticorruption", said Ilic.
Mr. Aleksandar Pajic, Special Advisor for High education and education of adults at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development said that the Ministry supports this kind of vision, above all, of preventing and combating corruption.
“All of our students, who are close to the age of majority, or are of the age old, should know what corruption means, that they recognize it, that they can point to the elements of corruption, so that we can fight against corruption as a society," Pajic underlined.
Mr. Roman Prah, Team leader of the project “Prevention and Fight against Corruption” specified that for young people he had "one single message".
"Follow the slogan we chose for this project - "break the chain” in sense that you do not go the same way as the others who will not break that chain, thus showing your willing that you and your peers live better," Prah said.
This educational class was organized within the framework of the project Prevention and Fight against Corruption as part of the public awarenesscampaign on the importance of prevention and fight against corruption.
The aim of this campaign is to improve public understanding of the topic of corruption as well as understanding of prevention and fight against corruption systems and mechanisms, and the special importance is given to education of young people.
The first Anti-Corruption Class was held on 4 April 2019 in Kraljevo, while next will be organized in Belgrade and Nis during September 2019. In addition to the organization of anti-corruption classes for high school students, a debate will be held with university students at four University Centres in Serbia, as well as numerous conferences.
