Empowering Children, Preventing Violence: Highlights from the International Anti-Bullying Conference
The European Antibullying Network and Eurochild member "The Smile of the Child", on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Network, co-organised an International Conference which took place in Greece ias part of the project PREVENT-Youth violence among peers: motives, causes & prevention techniques.
The event was attended by more than 100 participants, including teachers, educators, civil society actors, state authorities and other stakeholders.
Mr. Costas Yannopoulos, President of the Board of Directors of the European Antibullying Network and the Board of Directors of “Smile”, welcomed the attendees and said that "there are no perpetrators or victims but children, groups of children who are subjected to and act with violence. We must not only listen to the voices of children but also listen to their concerns [...].”
Several speakers agreed that Trust, Respect and Cooperation are necessary to tackle violence among minors.
Some data highighted in the event:
- 1 in 3 children across the country, declare that they have been bullied.
- 1 in 4 children, feels that the school does not teach them not to bully their peers.
- 100% of children would prefer to call a hotline for help, choosing the agency's National Helpline for Children SOS 1056.
- There was a 47% increase in the number of students participating in prevention and intervention programmes related to bullying.
Good practices for the prevention and treatment of bullying were shared by the speakers.
Professor Michele Riondino, from Eurochild member Telefono Azzurro, Italy shared examples such as the 116000 Line, the Azzurro Academy, educational programmes for children and adolescents, the 114 Line, as well as the new legislation in Italy, and said "The principle of all the services of Fondazione SOS - il Telefono Azzurro is the belief that every child has the right to be heard and it is worth doing something about it".
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