UN report on protecting children from bullying and cyberbullying

Ending the torment: tackling bullying from the schoolyard to cyberspace is the title of a recent research report from the United Nations, prefaced by Marta Santos Pais, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children. It is published in the framework of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals and, in particular, Target 16.2 to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

2017-03-29 BIK Team
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The publication seeks to bring together key elements of the rich global expertise on the issue of bullying (and cyberbullying) in order to share information, ideas and examples of best practice with all those who are interested in tackling the issue. It offers a complement to the United Nations Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Children and aims to provide further impetus to the drive by countries throughout the world to understand and better prevent the bullying of children and young people in all its manifestations, including online.
 
The key themes of this publication focus on the areas that need to be developed and strengthened in order to prevent bullying and to effectively mitigate its harm. As such, four chapters cover the areas of:
  • Empowering children and awareness raising.
  • Legislation and public policies.
  • School interventions.
  • Children's exposure to bullying: data and regional trends.
Each chapter is formed of several papers from notable researchers in the field.
 
Writing in the preface, Marta Santos Pais states: "While there are still many gaps in the data collected on children's exposure to bullying and on the effectiveness of programmes designed to address it, there is a considerable wealth of information and research that could be shared more widely with all stakeholders."
 
She continues: "This publication is a contribution to such knowledge-sharing. It is designed to reach out to government leaders and decision-makers, as well as researchers, educators, health professionals and child protection actors who can help design sound policies and laws and promote their effective implementation, while supporting families and making a lasting difference in the life of children. The analysis, experiences and advice provided are both well-researched and accessible – the data can further advance knowledge in the field, the evidence of what works provides practical examples, and the voices of children reflected in some of the articles provide essential insights for all who are interested in tackling bullying."
 

The full report can be downloaded here.

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