TRIBUNE – On the occasion of the National Day to Combat Bullying at School, Gabriel Attal founded the association “Faire face”, with Elian Potier and Béatrice Le Blay, mother of Nicolas, a bullied student who killed himself in September 2023.
Gabriel Attal is a former prime minister and current deputy (Together) for Hauts-de-Seine. Béatrice Le Blay is the mother of Nicolas, who killed himself in September 2023 following school bullying. Elian Potier is the founder of Urgence harassment. All three are the co-presidents of the association Facing Harassment.
School bullying is a silent tragedy, which leaves deep scars, tears destinies and shatters lives. Bullying is a mass tragedy. A million students have been victims over the past three years. In middle school, it is estimated that there are at least two bullied children in each class. These figures are blood-curdling, and the worst thing is that they are probably underestimated.
But what is even more chilling is knowing the daily life these young people live. Because harassment is first and foremost a tragedy for them. A daily tragedy, which undermines and destroys them. It’s mockery, bullying, violence. It is an ostracism that destroys their dreams and their confidence. It's a nightmare at school, at sports and, with social media, a never-ending nightmare that follows them into their rooms.
This is not childishness, like an obligatory passage. This tragedy has consequences: hundreds of thousands of children whose youth has been stolen, dropping out of school, marginalization, depression and sometimes the irreparable. Like Nicolas, who ended his life in September 2023. Like so many young people, whose names sound like drama, suffering and failures. Like so many innocent victims who died from being harassed.
Let's say it clearly: no child is safe. Bullying can strike in all classes, all establishments, all families. We are equal in the face of this tragedy, and we refuse to be impassive. These last few years have been an opportunity to realize: it is time to redouble our efforts. Because the way we fight against this phenomenon which affects our children and young people in their flesh, says a lot about the society we want to build. A society of conflict or fraternity? A society of violence or of well-being and kindness?
We will work with researchers, psychologists and educators to better understand the causes of harassment and respond to it ever more effectively.
Gabriel Attal, Béatrice Le Blay and Elian Potier
This is why, on the occasion of the National Day against School Bullying, we are launching the “Faire face” association and we are launching a message, an appeal as urgent as it is necessary: let’s act. Let's act with strength. Let us act tirelessly. Let us spare no effort against harassment. Let's act for the victims. Let's act for our school. Let us act for our children and our youth. Only the mobilization of everyone will make it possible to win the fight: this is the objective of “Facing”. We are convinced of this; the electroshock started.
Our first mission: to alert, always and again. Awareness is the first step towards change. Our association will constantly contact young people but also parents to inform, discuss and make people understand. Detect, then. The best ally of harassment is silence. Through workshops, information campaigns and resources accessible to all, we will help families recognize the signs of harassment and act quickly.
Accompany, of course. Families often feel lost in the face of their child's distress. Our association will support affected families legally and psychologically, because everyone has the right to quality support. Finally, seek and find new ideas to better understand the root causes of harassment and develop lasting solutions to stop it. We will work with researchers, psychologists and educators to better understand the causes of harassment and respond to it ever more effectively. These are the objectives and foundations of our association. An association as a call to commitment. Like a call to unite. As a call to action for everyone: families, teachers, associations, and of course, public authorities. We all have part of the answer in our hands. And it is together that we can face harassment. So that shame and fear finally change sides.
