Immediate action needed against peer bullying

1. Immediate action needed against peer bullying
Skopje, 19 February 2020 (MIA) –
Social exclusion, verbal and physical abuse, mocking, threatening… These forms of unwanted and
aggressive behaviors in high schoolers are victimizing boys and girls alike. Peer abuse can leave
permanent consequences, it doesn’t happen only in schools. Children can be also affected at home via
social media.
Ana Bitoljanu from the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi tells MIA that violence is so
normalized in our society that it rarely gets taken seriously, meaning that it will pass on its own if
something severe doesn’t occur. Bitoljanu adds that it’s difficult to be reminded of the importance of
non-violence, and how prevalent violence is in day-to-day communication among teenagers.
“However, it’s our responsibility to deal with it,” she stresses. “Violence occurs as a somewhat natural
part of communication among people, but it’s our responsibility to teach non-violent ways to deal with
what troubles us, and how to make us and everyone around us feel good. Many schools try to sweep
certain cases under the rug instead of acting immediately as soon as violence occurs, which means
reporting and acknowledging that violence has occurred, and then thinking about the necessary steps
that need to be taken,” Bitoljanu says.
Violence on the rise, boys and girls alike fall victims
Unfortunately, violence is constantly on the rise. Forms of violence among minors are discovered on a
daily basis. Without a doubt, this violence leave long-term consequences, and it also ruins the image of
the society as a whole.
Recently, we’ve witnessed organized fights between minors in the Skopje municipality of Kapishtec, with
an admission price of MKD 20 and a MKD 300 recording fee, as reported by parents of eyewitnesses.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights immediately appealed to authorities to act urgently with
respect to these violence-inducing acts between children, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs hasn’t
shared any information with the public yet on whether it has taken any measure.

2. According to 2018 UNICEF data, 42% of students in North Macedonia aged 13-15 have reported having
been victims of peer violence.
“Due to the concerning scope of this phenomenon, the Ministry of Education, educational institutions,
municipalities, parents, and children must be involved in preventing and dealing with it. The dangerous
trend of normalizing violence among children can be stopped only by an all-encompassing approach.
Otherwise, passivity, turning a blind eye and not reacting will cause long-term consequences for all of
society,” the UNICEF announcement reads.
Bitoljanu clarifies that we shouldn’t be passive observers when we notice this kind of violence among
children, nor should we only stand there criticizing. We should be trying to find different solutions to
solve the problem of violence among high schoolers, adding that violence nowadays increases due to
the existence of technology and recording.
Physical violence is no longer the primary source of violence for boys.
“In the past, it was expected for boys to pick on each other, getting into fights and using physical
violence, whereas girls would use more subtle forms. Things have changed nowadays. It’s important to
note the existence of cyberbullying and social exclusion alongside verbal violence. Personally, I find it
crucial to recognize the subtle forms,” Bitoljanu states.
In order to prevent peer violence and increase social awareness regarding this phenomenon, Megjashi
recently organized a forum theater play as part of the Peace Education Program. Twenty-two high
schoolers took part. Of those, nine were from the school Kocho Racin in Veles, four from Shaip Jusuf and
nine were from the school Nikola Karev in Skopje.
Fatmore Ajdari from the Peace Education Program told MIA that the Forum Theater is an idea devised
by students and teachers. They see Forum as an opportunity to create societal change.
“Forum is the students’ idea because they know what’s best for them, and so we closely cooperate with
them at all times. The students staged two scenarios of peer violence, whereas the audience gave
suggestions for ways to prevent it. Students who take part have a mentor who follows their work, taking
into account the students’ needs and recommendations,” Ajdari said.
Bitoljanu adds that the Forum is a way to find creative ways for young people to express themselves,
and that these ways will contribute towards societal changes and reducing peer violence in schools.
Ajdari and Bitoljanu agree that creative ways for preventing violence must be introduced, and to let all
students be equally represented.
Cyberbullying most prevalent, open communication with students is needed
Cyberbullying is most prevalent among students. It’s easy to recognize, but hard to prevent, because it
can last up to 24 hours a day.
“An unofficial research has been conducted in schools across Skopje and the country. We have yet to
see which type of violence is most prevalent. Nonetheless, judging by what we have seen and what the
teachers have been seeing, cyberbullying is the most dominant form. This form of bullying doesn’t only
last while children or teenagers are at school, or riding the bus, or in the streets, it could last up to 24
hours a day, and I think it’s the hardest one to stop. Children should be talked to about cyberbullying, to

3. raise their awareness about this issue,” Ajdari says, motivating children to talk to their parents and
teachers, and vice versa.
Ajdari says that it’s best for children who have been victims of violence to find someone to talk to,
someone they feel closest with to talk to them about this issue. Open communication and heart-to-
heart conversations are the only way to reduce the consequences suffered from peer violence.
“Similarly, students and teachers should recognize peer violence and take all reports seriously, to talk to
the children and create an environment where violence is clearly not tolerated. Lots of schools try
harder to sweep cases under the rug, rather than acting immediately.
At the end of the day, Bitoljanu says, there is no magical solution to this problem, there is no correct
answer as to how something can be solved, but we can keep trying to find solutions or to make it visible
at the very least, to build a common sense of societal change for an issue that, just about, affects us all.
Immediate action needed against peer bullying
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