PREVNet researchers and organizations are working to stop the use of power and aggression in relationships and to promote safe and healthy relationships for Canadian children and youth. PREVNet activities are guided by the following key messages:

1. Bullying is Wrong and Hurtful

• Being safe in relationships is a fundamental human right.  Every child and youth has the right to be safe and free from involvement in bullying.  It affects children and youth who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who know it is going on.

2. Bullying is a Relationship Problem

• Bullying is a problem in relationships where power is used to cause distress to another. The child who bullies is learning to use power and aggression to control others. The child who is being victimized becomes trapped in an abusive relationship and needs help to stop the bullying. Peers who witness bullying may also be negatively affected.
• Power and aggression can be asserted in different ways:  physically, verbally, nonverbally, through exclusion, malicious gossiping, racial and sexual harassment, homophobia, and cyberbullying.
• Bullying occurs in relationships at all ages and in all cultures. Lessons of power and aggression learned in childhood bullying can lead to sexual harassment, dating aggression, and may later extend to workplace harassment, as well as marital, child, and elder abuse. Victimized children may also carry the hurt and fear from bullying forward into adult relationships.  Interventions should begin early and be tailored to children’s age, gender, and diverse needs and capacities.
• Peers are a part of bullying. Children and youth witness the majority of bullying episodes. The actions of peers can be part of the bullying problem or part of the solution.
• Bullying requires relationship solutions. Children and youth need help to understand that bullying is wrong, develop respect and empathy for others, and learn how to get along with and support others. 

3. Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence are Everybody’s Responsibility

• Interventions must include all children and youth involved in bullying.  Those who bully, those who are victimized, and those who witness it must all be involved in solutions to bullying. All of these individuals need to learn alternative strategies to resolve a bullying situation.
• Label the bullying behaviour - not the person. Identify the problem as bullying behaviour.  We avoid labeling children and youth as “bullies” and “victims” because these labels limit how they think about themselves and how others think of them. All children and youth have strengths and the capacity for healthy relationships.
• Responses to bullying should promote healthy relationships.  Responding to bullying is an opportunity to provide support, promote healthy relationships, as well as discipline. Discipline should take the form of formative rather than punitive consequences, which are activities that not only provide a clear message that bullying is unacceptable, but also develop respect and empathy for others. 
• Adults are essential for children and youth’s healthy relationships. All adults are responsible for creating positive environments, promoting healthy relationships, and ending violence in the lives of children and youth. They are role models and must lead by example and refrain from using their power aggressively. Adults must look for, listen, and respond to bullying. Adults can organize social activities in ways that protect and support children’s relationships and stop bullying.
• Bullying is everyone’s problem - not just a school problem. Bullying occurs in all places where children and youth live, learn, and play. As the primary institution in children’s lives, schools have a key role to play in addressing bullying. All community organizations share the responsibility for creating safe, welcoming, and violence-free environments. 

Full version of PREVNet's Key Messages
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PREVNet researchers and organizations are working to stop the use of power and aggression in relationships and to promote safe and healthy relationships for Canadian children and youth. PREVNet activities are guided by the following key messages:

1. Bullying is Wrong and Hurtful

• Being safe in relationships is a fundamental human right.  Every child and youth has the right to be safe and free from involvement in bullying.  It affects children and youth who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who know it is going on.

2. Bullying is a Relationship Problem

• Bullying is a problem in relationships where power is used to cause distress to another. The child who bullies is learning to use power and aggression to control others. The child who is being victimized becomes trapped in an abusive relationship and needs help to stop the bullying. Peers who witness bullying may also be negatively affected.
• Power and aggression can be asserted in different ways:  physically, verbally, nonverbally, through exclusion, malicious gossiping, racial and sexual harassment, homophobia, and cyberbullying.
• Bullying occurs in relationships at all ages and in all cultures. Lessons of power and aggression learned in childhood bullying can lead to sexual harassment, dating aggression, and may later extend to workplace harassment, as well as marital, child, and elder abuse. Victimized children may also carry the hurt and fear from bullying forward into adult relationships.  Interventions should begin early and be tailored to children’s age, gender, and diverse needs and capacities.
• Peers are a part of bullying. Children and youth witness the majority of bullying episodes. The actions of peers can be part of the bullying problem or part of the solution.
• Bullying requires relationship solutions. Children and youth need help to understand that bullying is wrong, develop respect and empathy for others, and learn how to get along with and support others. 

3. Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence are Everybody’s Responsibility

• Interventions must include all children and youth involved in bullying.  Those who bully, those who are victimized, and those who witness it must all be involved in solutions to bullying. All of these individuals need to learn alternative strategies to resolve a bullying situation.
• Label the bullying behaviour - not the person. Identify the problem as bullying behaviour.  We avoid labeling children and youth as “bullies” and “victims” because these labels limit how they think about themselves and how others think of them. All children and youth have strengths and the capacity for healthy relationships.
• Responses to bullying should promote healthy relationships.  Responding to bullying is an opportunity to provide support, promote healthy relationships, as well as discipline. Discipline should take the form of formative rather than punitive consequences, which are activities that not only provide a clear message that bullying is unacceptable, but also develop respect and empathy for others. 
• Adults are essential for children and youth’s healthy relationships. All adults are responsible for creating positive environments, promoting healthy relationships, and ending violence in the lives of children and youth. They are role models and must lead by example and refrain from using their power aggressively. Adults must look for, listen, and respond to bullying. Adults can organize social activities in ways that protect and support children’s relationships and stop bullying.
• Bullying is everyone’s problem - not just a school problem. Bullying occurs in all places where children and youth live, learn, and play. As the primary institution in children’s lives, schools have a key role to play in addressing bullying. All community organizations share the responsibility for creating safe, welcoming, and violence-free environments. 

Full version of PREVNet's Key Messages
Download