What is bullying?
It is an aggressive act that causes harm to someone physically, mentally, or emotionally. Bullying aims to offend, intimidate, humiliate, or harm an individual or group repeatedly, within a context where the victim feels isolated and cannot easily defend themselves.
It traditionally consists of:
- power imbalance
- intention
- repetition
Bullying can happen in various settings, including:
- online
- physically
- verbally
- relationally
It can be carried out by an individual or a group. Typically, it involves not just the victim and the perpetrator, but also bystanders.
A wide-spread issue
Across Europe, more than 20% of 15-year-old students reported being frequently bullied, a phenomenon that affects students and schools irrespective of their socio-economic profile.
Whole-school approaches
Whole-school approaches acknowledge and involve families and local communities as parts of the school ecosystem.
Adopting whole-school approaches can empower learners, educators, parents, caregivers, families and the whole local community to prevent and tackle discrimination, violence, prejudice, bullying and cyberbullying. They work by promoting the values of inclusion and equity, empowerment and democratic citizenship.
Useful resources for educators and policymakers
Webinars and training
The School Education Platform runs regular webinars on wellbeing, including on bullying, in schools.
Toolkits and guidelines
The European Commission published guidelines for policymakers and educators on wellbeing and mental health at school. They pull together recommendations, project examples, and good practices from across the EU.
Working group
The Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training focuses on structural reforms to promote equality in education and training. It is a space where policymakers exchange best practices on topics such as addressing and preventing hatred and bullying.
Erasmus+
The Erasmus+ programme supports numerous projects that address bullying. These projects provide strategies, skills and tools to schools, teachers and school communities, focusing on partnerships and cooperation.
Policy background and relevant EU initiatives
Council Recommendation
The Council Recommendation on Pathways to School Success aims to promote better educational outcomes for all young Europeans, irrespective of their personal characteristics, family, socio-economic and cultural background.