Romanian Activists Call New 'Children's Demonstrations'

Romanian activists have announced they will take to the streets with their children on Saturday and Sunday in response to government threats to fine them for allegedly putting their youngsters in danger by bringing them to previous demonstrations.

The National Authority for Child Protection announced on Thursday that bit had received 29 complaints against parents who took their children to Bucharest's Victoria Square to join mass protests against a government plan to relax anti-corruption legislation and decriminalise official misconduct.

Labour Minister Olguta Vasilescu said the parents should be investigated and fined because she argued that it is against the law to bring children to a political demonstration.

Vasilescu said that the law stipulates that in the case of demonstrations intended to "do something to the state authorities", children cannot attend.

The first children's march against corruption was held on February 6, but protesters continued to bring their youngsters along to the anti-corruption demonstrations which took place every day, arguing that they were teaching their offspring the principles of citizenship.

Children's rights NGOs argued that international law allows this, and accused Vasilescu of pressurising the protesters.

It also accused her of using the Child Protection Authority for political purposes, because one of the 29 complaints was against the head of the Save Romania Union party, Nicusor Dan.

"Yes, I took my child to the protest. I did that when it was warm enough to take her, to be sure she was safe. We went by car, she was always in our care," Dan said in response to the compaint.

"I never intended to get anything out of it. It's absurd," he added.

The executive director of...