Italian
Following the incident in Parma, there is growing demand for a network between schools, families, and communities to restore dignity, empathy, and responsibility to young people
PARMA – The National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights Education (CNDDU) expresses deep concern over the serious incident of violence that occurred in Parma, on Via Amendola, where several middle school girls physically assaulted each other while their peers, instead of intervening, cheered them on and filmed the scene. This episode is not just an act of violence, but a disturbing sign of the deep distress affecting the younger generations.
The spectacle of pain, the absence of empathy, and the normalization of aggression are symptoms of an educational and relational crisis that cannot be addressed through emergency or purely repressive measures. Rather, it is a silent cry for help, revealing the urgent need for a renewed educational pact between schools, families, and communities.
The CNDDU emphasizes that schools must not and cannot be left alone: a widespread educational network is needed, where institutions, social services, associations, and families work together in a stable and systematic way. It is urgent to promote socio-emotional education projects, emotional and digital literacy programs, and intergenerational dialogue spaces where young people can feel seen, welcomed, and valued.
Human rights education and civic responsibility are strategic tools to combat youth violence. They help students understand the value of personal dignity, the meaning of freedom, and the necessity of mutual respect as the foundation for peaceful coexistence.
The CNDDU proposes the creation of a National Integrated Educational Plan for the prevention of youth distress, which would complement security measures with permanent educational projects, the strengthening of youth centers, psychological support in schools, and initiatives to counter school dropout.
We must not forget that every violent act is the product of an inner void, often fueled by isolation, confusion, and a lack of positive role models. It is therefore essential to restore to young people the value of relationships, dialogue, and solidarity.
We need a new pedagogy of proximity, one that brings adults and adolescents closer together by recovering the language of dialogue and mutual trust. Teachers, along with educators and families, must feel part of a single educational community that supports young people in their human and social growth.
We also stress the need to educate about the proper use of technology, so that social media do not become arenas of humiliation and violence, but tools of knowledge, creativity, and responsible participation. It is urgent to support teachers with targeted training on youth dynamics, emotional intelligence, and the prevention of risky behaviors.
Education is the most powerful antidote to violence: only by restoring young people’s sense of their own dignity can we build a more just, empathetic, and united society.
Only an educational community that places care for others and respect for the individual at its core can stem the rise of violence and social disengagement. The school, together with families, must once again become a workshop of humanity, where growing up doesn’t mean competing, but learning to live together.
