I am 16 years old and I can say that I was abused many times in some way in Romania. Last time by those of police.

I walked along with two other friends on the street when a police car stopped next to us. In the car there was a young boy us, who showed us his middle finger. None of us knew that boy. One of the policemen began to assault us physically and verbally saying, "I will teach you a lesson, insulting my grandson". I told him we did not know the boy. We were searched, then we had to get in the car and were taken to police station. I asked to notify our parents because none of us was more than 15.5 years old. But this only caused a bitterer behavior towards us. They began to interrogate us and were forcing us to give false statements. One of my friends received a slap when he quickly opened the phone and informed his father briefly about where we were detained. For about 2 h 30 I was detained. During this time my parents desperately sought me in the city. The police did not have any logical explanation when they arrived at the police station to pick me up. Of course my parents made a criminal complaint. I learned afterwards that the boy had been verbally insulted by another teenager, but of course, none of us. And also he was the grandson of one of the cops.

I waited for 1 month for the case to be solved. And what do you think?! One hand washes the other. They investigated the case and concluded that the police prosecutor did nothing wrong and nothing of what I said. Moreover, since then, sometimes I see a nice new car slows down and stare at us, then leave. They are always on our backs. And why? I did nothing wrong. They are those who have abused us. And this, I can tell you, is not a rare story. Because that is the country where I live. Romania.