French PM Borne unveils 'uncompromising' strategy to combat bullying in schools
The French government on Wednesday unveiled an interministerial plan to combat bullying in schools, with Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne promising an "uncompromising fight" against such aggression. The announcement follows the suicide deaths of several teenagers that have sparked widespread indignation in recent years.
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“This mobilisation must be comprehensive; everyone has a role to play," Borne told a press conference at the prime minister's office at Matignon. The French government will lead an "uncompromising fight against harassment" not only at schools but anywhere that plays a key role in a child's life.
“Our plan is 100% prevention, 100% detection, 100% solutions,” Borne said.
The prime minister heard testimonies from students who were either harassed themselves or active in associations fighting harassment ahead of the press conference. “These are obviously not simple stories to tell," she said. "Talking about them is very important and committing yourself to helping others is also a lovely way to rebuild yourself."
After the May suicide of Lindsay, 13, in Pas-de-Calais, Borne asked several members of her cabinet to work on an interministerial plan for the start of the new school year.
Several measures were already put in place over the summer, including making bullies switch schools and punishments for those harassing students from other scholastic establishments online.
The government has also launched an app and introduced an emergency help number, 3018, dedicated to online harassment.
Read moreFrance alarmed by 'despicable' death of teenage girl who drowned in Seine
Confiscating phones
Education Minister Gabriel Attal announced the establishment of "empathy courses" to be included in the school curriculum – similar to what exists in other countries, notably Denmark – from the start of the 2024 school year.
Borne said that local prosecutors will now be "systematically" informed of reports of harassment.
The government is also looking into confiscating the telephones of serious perpetrators of cyber-bullying and prohibiting them from using social networks.
Bullying at school affects one in 10 students in France.
A 14-year-old girl who faced cyber-bullying by classmates died in 2021 after jumping into the Seine.
The issue made headlines again after Nicolas, 15, killed himself in Poissy (Yvelines) the day after the start of the school year and following a series of controversies over how bullying is being handled by schools.
Education Minister Attal said that every scholastic institution must have an anti-harassment strategy in place "by the end of the year".
Read moreSchool bullying gone viral: wave of teenage suicides force reckoning in France
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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