It’s not a joke, it’s bullying: understand behaviors that constitute a crime and know how to act

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Law enacted in January 2024 provides for imprisonment and fines in more serious cases of physical or psychological aggression in the school environment. April 7th is National Day to Combat Bullying and Violence in Schools. Mikhail Nilov/Pexels Giving nicknames, mocking physical characteristics or racial traits, using a colleague as a constant character in jokes: attitudes like these, often seen as jokes, are, in fact, bullying. This Sunday (April 7) is National Day to Combat Bullying and Violence in Schools. 📊 According to the 2019 National School Health Survey (PeNSE), carried out by IBGE, 23% of students aged 13 to 17 said they had suffered bullying at school in the 30 days prior to the survey. On the other hand, 12% of students in the same age group admitted having committed this violence in the same period. According to lawyer Ana Paula Siqueira, who presides over the SOS Bullying Association, “bullying is any form of physical or psychological aggression, swearing, violence, threat or exclusion made by a person or group against another person.” She explains that, according to the 2015 Bullying Law, this violence only happens in the school environment (from basic education to postdoctoral studies), in clubs or recreational associations. But if any of these activities happen on the internet, it is cyberbullying. And, with the enactment of Law 14,811, in January 2024, cases of bullying and cyberbullying are subject to imprisonment and fines in more serious cases. Play x Bullying For Ana Paula Siqueira, play can be easily differentiated from bullying, as the objectives are opposite. “If the intention of that particular attitude is to exclude, ridicule or hurt someone, it’s no joke. Games are when everyone has fun. So, when someone starts to suffer, it becomes bullying.” It is also bullying when degradation is carried out in the digital environment. In these cases, the term cyberbullying is applied. The characteristics are almost the same as conventional bullying. The main difference is that, while in one of them physical violence and clear identification of the aggressors can occur, the other occurs mainly with anonymity and psychological violence. With technological advances, cyberbullying has become even more common, and with this comes the understanding that bullying can also be practiced – and suffered – by parents, teachers, and other members of the school community. “When the group of mothers on WhatsApp starts insulting the teacher, it is cyberbullying. If, in the group of students, they are cursing the teachers, it is cyberbullying. If, in the group of teachers, they are using nicknames and discriminating against the student, it is also cyberbullying”, explains the lawyer. Signs of bullying Violence that occurs in the school environment can leave marks on the victim. In children, the main signs appear in changes in behavior and in physical reactions, such as: school phobia; apathy or emotional withdrawal; lack or excess of appetite; drop in school performance; panic or anxiety attacks; anxiety, vomiting or malaise; among others. How to react to bullying Despite If there are measures to combat bullying, such as the law that classifies this type of violence as a heinous crime, there must also be prevention alternatives. To prevent Parents cannot assume that their children will never suffer this violence. Or worse, that their children They will never practice bullying. It is necessary to educate these children, talk to them. In the same way, schools cannot stop teaching about bullying because they think that their students will never practice it or suffer from it. Parents should also look at their children’s interactions on digital channels and monitor message exchanges to ensure that the child’s contact network is trustworthy. Schools and educators also need to have a clear line of action in combating this type of violence. According to the expert, non-tolerance of this type of conduct in the school environment can also inhibit violent behavior of this type. Furthermore, public authorities can actively participate, offering encouragement and training to education professionals. To combat To deal with this violence once it happens, it is essential that schools provide reporting channels. “Students need to have an alternative that guarantees them the right to report without fear of reprisal. This tool can also be open to complaints from parents and teachers, as long as the data is treated with due security”, explains Ana Paula Siqueira. The victim’s parents are responsible for welcoming the child at first and then informing the school of what happened. It is important to register the complaint with the school, whether on digital channels or in writing, with acknowledgment of receipt from the institution, to demand updates and a final opinion on the matter. The victim and those responsible can also file an official complaint with the Child Protection Council, the Public Prosecutor’s Office or the police station. And, if it is proven that the school was informed of what happened and did not take any action, it may also be legally liable for the infraction. Beyond bullying There is also the understanding that some attacks that are initially understood as bullying can be judged in the criminal sphere in other ways. For example: If a group of students gets together to physically attack another student, it constitutes bodily harm. Offending based on the person’s skin tone, hair texture, or race constitutes racial insult. “In other words, even a ‘joke’, a ‘targeted insult’, or more serious physical attacks are crimes in the same way, and should be discouraged and punished when necessary”, concludes Ana Paula Siqueira.

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