an urgent issue for France

November 7 marks the National Day Against School Bullying in France, a day of essential awareness of a scourge that continues to affect many young people. School bullying and its digital counterpart, cyberbullying, affect thousands of children and adolescents across the country. Indeed, in France, one child in ten is the victim of harassment at school, while one young person in five has suffered harassment online, according to recent statistics. This repeated violence leads to serious consequences, ranging from anxiety and depression to suicide attempts, highlighting the urgency of effective action to protect young people.

The “Children’s Confidence Barometer”: a growing concern

According to the first “Children’s Confidence Barometer” published by the Asmae-Association Sœur Emmanuelle association, the situation is alarming. Although 80% of children surveyed say they are optimistic about their future, 90% nevertheless feel worries on a daily basis, and 23% of children aged 8 to 15 identify school bullying and cyberbullying as their biggest fears. These figures show the need for adults to mobilize and intensify prevention, accompaniment and support efforts for victims.

A poorly managed problem: why do adults struggle to intervene?

In France, policies to combat school bullying have certainly evolved, but the results remain insufficient. Several reasons explain this situation:

• Lack of training for educational staff: teachers and school supervisors are not always trained to spot the signs of harassment or to intervene effectively. However, early detection is essential to prevent escalation.
• Taboos and minimization: bullying at school is often seen as a “necessary part” of childhood, which pushes some adults to minimize its importance. However, it is not a simple phase but a real phenomenon of violence with serious psychological consequences.
• Lack of coordination between actors: the fight against bullying should involve many actors (schools, families, associations, social services), but coordination remains insufficient or even non-existent most of the time. As a result, delays in detecting and resolving the problem and a strong feeling of isolation for victims.

Taking inspiration from Europe: what concrete solutions?

Faced with this reality, France could take inspiration from certain European countries that have implemented effective measures against school bullying:

• Sweden: the model of mediation and student accountability. In Sweden, peer mediation programs have been established, where specially trained students act as mediators with their classmates to prevent conflicts. By integrating them directly into the solution, these programs empower students while strengthening mutual aid and solidarity.
• The Netherlands: a reinforced prevention approach from a very young age. In the Netherlands, prevention of school bullying starts in primary school. Schools incorporate social and emotional education lessons into their curriculum that help children understand empathy, nonviolent communication, and expressing emotions. This global program helps to establish a climate of respect and listening in schools.
• Denmark: “anti-harassment teams” in each establishment. Danish schools have teams specifically trained to deal with cases of bullying. In the event of a problem, these teams intervene quickly and offer psychological support to victims, as well as mediation between the students concerned.

Towards a culture of zero tolerance for harassment

To better protect French children and adolescents, several concrete actions could be implemented:

• Strengthen teacher training: every teacher should be trained in harassment detection methods and mediation techniques to be able to intervene quickly and effectively.
• Establish referents in each school: like the Danish model, each establishment could appoint anti-harassment referents, capable of supporting student victims and creating a dialogue between all the stakeholders concerned.
• Educate students on respect and kindness: integrating classes on emotion management, non-violent communication and awareness of the effects of harassment into the school program would create an environment conducive to listening and mutual respect.
• Supporting families: France could also rely on associations to offer workshops and resources to parents. Although 80% of parents have discussed bullying with their children, many do not know how to respond effectively to a proven case.

The fight against school bullying and cyberbullying in France requires collective will, increased awareness and lasting commitment from everyone. The National Day Against School Bullying is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness and mobilize. Inspired by good European practices, France could strengthen its prevention, training and support strategies for victims, in order to make its schools places of safety and well-being for all children.