The UN Convention on Rights of the Child specifies that children should be protected from abusive experiences. Within Canada, there are laws that protect all citizens from abuse. Why then does bullying continue and why are so many children involved in this form of peer abuse? One answer may be that we have only recently recognized the significant long-term consequences of bullying and have not yet developed effective educational, social, and legal responses promoting systematic interventions. This omission places both children who bully and children who are victimized at continuing risk for psychological and social problems. Paradoxically, the approach to bullying as “just kids being kids” and an important “lesson to toughen up” has created the inequity of having laws and harassment policies that appear to protect adults to a greater extent than they protect children from peer harassment in our society.
From a prevention and early intervention perspective, the policies governing responses to harassment (sexual, racial, etc.) among adults provide an excellent framework upon which to build an effective approach to protecting children and adolescents who are abused by their peers. By implementing parallel policies, we can develop schools and communities as places where all members feel safe and are treated with respect.
There are five basic components to developing a policy to address bullying:
- A Clear Definition of Bullying
- An Indication that the Policy Applies to All Members of the School and Community
- A Clear Statement of Concern and Commitment to Resolve Bullying Problems
- Clear Procedures and Processes to Resolve Bullying Problems
- Formative Consequences for the Children or Youth Who Have Been Bullying
Being safe and feeling included at school is a right for every member of the school community. Similarly, Promoting relationships and eliminating violence are everybody’s responsibility. 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.
For Parents and Professionals::
Formative Consequences for Parents
- A list of formative consequences that parents can use in conjunction with the removal of privileges which provide support for children and youth to learn the relationship skills and acquire the insights that they are lacking.
Download
Formative Consequences for Teachers
- A list of formative consequences that teachers can use in conjunction with the removal of privileges which provide support for students to learn the relationship skills and acquire the insights that they are lacking.
Download
Bullying: A Human Rights Issue
- When children are victimized, whether the perpetrator is an adult or a peer, their rights are being violated. This factsheet written by PREVNet in partnership with SAMHSA, includes key research findings, key themes, and implications of bullying as a human rights issue.
Download
Bullying Prevention Policies
- A sound bullying prevention policy is essential for coordinated and consistent efforts to reduce bullying. This factsheet written by PREVNet in partnership with SAMHSA, outlines elements of a bullying prevention policy.
Download
Full PREVNet Policy Principles
Download
Policies for Canada
In implementing the principles set down in the UN Convention of Rights of the Child, PREVNet is designed to raise awareness and to support both the perpetrators and victims of bullying. Our goal is to ensure that all children and youth in Canada feel safe and protected from abuse at the hands of their peers at home, school, and in the neighbourhood. If Canada is committed to reducing violence and ensuring the health and well being of its children, we must address bullying problems that are the foundation for the consolidation of the use of power and aggression in relationships across the lifespan (e.g., dating aggression, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, and family violence). By preventing and addressing the problems of bullying and victimization in childhood and adolescence, we will contribute to Canada’s efforts to build a secure and equitable society.
The UN Convention on Rights of the Child specifies that children should be protected from abusive experiences. Within Canada, there are laws that protect all citizens from abuse. Why then does bullying continue and why are so many children involved in this form of peer abuse? One answer may be that we have only recently recognized the significant long-term consequences of bullying and have not yet developed effective educational, social, and legal responses promoting systematic interventions. This omission places both children who bully and children who are victimized at continuing risk for psychological and social problems. Paradoxically, the approach to bullying as “just kids being kids” and an important “lesson to toughen up” has created the inequity of having laws and harassment policies that appear to protect adults to a greater extent than they protect children from peer harassment in our society.
From a prevention and early intervention perspective, the policies governing responses to harassment (sexual, racial, etc.) among adults provide an excellent framework upon which to build an effective approach to protecting children and adolescents who are abused by their peers. By implementing parallel policies, we can develop schools and communities as places where all members feel safe and are treated with respect.
There are five basic components to developing a policy to address bullying:
- A Clear Definition of Bullying
- An Indication that the Policy Applies to All Members of the School and Community
- A Clear Statement of Concern and Commitment to Resolve Bullying Problems
- Clear Procedures and Processes to Resolve Bullying Problems
- Formative Consequences for the Children or Youth Who Have Been Bullying
Being safe and feeling included at school is a right for every member of the school community. Similarly, Promoting relationships and eliminating violence are everybody’s responsibility. 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.
For Parents and Professionals::
Formative Consequences for Parents
- A list of formative consequences that parents can use in conjunction with the removal of privileges which provide support for children and youth to learn the relationship skills and acquire the insights that they are lacking.
Download
Formative Consequences for Teachers
- A list of formative consequences that teachers can use in conjunction with the removal of privileges which provide support for students to learn the relationship skills and acquire the insights that they are lacking.
Download
Bullying: A Human Rights Issue
- When children are victimized, whether the perpetrator is an adult or a peer, their rights are being violated. This factsheet written by PREVNet in partnership with SAMHSA, includes key research findings, key themes, and implications of bullying as a human rights issue.
Download
Bullying Prevention Policies
- A sound bullying prevention policy is essential for coordinated and consistent efforts to reduce bullying. This factsheet written by PREVNet in partnership with SAMHSA, outlines elements of a bullying prevention policy.
Download
Full PREVNet Policy Principles
Download
Policies for Canada
In implementing the principles set down in the UN Convention of Rights of the Child, PREVNet is designed to raise awareness and to support both the perpetrators and victims of bullying. Our goal is to ensure that all children and youth in Canada feel safe and protected from abuse at the hands of their peers at home, school, and in the neighbourhood. If Canada is committed to reducing violence and ensuring the health and well being of its children, we must address bullying problems that are the foundation for the consolidation of the use of power and aggression in relationships across the lifespan (e.g., dating aggression, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, and family violence). By preventing and addressing the problems of bullying and victimization in childhood and adolescence, we will contribute to Canada’s efforts to build a secure and equitable society.