Filenews 22 September 2023 - by Despina Psillou
The criminalization of school bullying, workplace bullying and bullying in the army, in order to eliminate such behaviours aimed at the physical or psychological abuse of the victim, is targeted by a bill submitted by the President of the Parliament, Annita Demetriou and the MP of AKEL, Andreas Pasiourtidis.
In fact, as far as bullying is concerned, with their introduction offenders will face a prison sentence of up to 12 months and/or a fine of up to €2,000.
«School bullying is defined as the repeated and intentional exercise of psychological violence by one or more students in a school or other relevant place, against a student who becomes a target, which may include the exercise of physical abusive behaviour", it is stated and added that bullying includes the dissemination of malignant, false and rumours. Disclosure of the victim's personal data, threats or blackmail, removal of personal belongings, hits, pushes, bites, bites or malicious teasing, hurling abusive or mocking expressions, comments, mockery as to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or other characteristic of the victim. It also includes cyber and digital bullying.
The criminalization of school bullying concerns students between 14 and 18 years old, who attend a public or private school and who, due to their status, frequent a tutorial or summer school and have not reached the age of 21.
"As is well known, school bullying as a phenomenon is taking on increasingly worrying dimensions in today's societies among minors in school and/or other related places, where students gather," it said, adding that incidents involved bullies, victims, spectators, teachers and parents. School violence differs from "teasing" between friends in the context of play, which in no way aims to cause physical or mental pain, unlike school bullying involving students who do not have friendly relations and who have an imbalance of power between them in terms of individual, social or other characteristics. "In this regard, bullying is intended to cause fear, upset, isolation, harm and physical or psychological pain or other similar situations."
According to the draft law, in addition to the phenomenon of school bullying, "workplace bullying and bullying phenomena are increasingly occurring in the army, which also need to be addressed by taking repressive measures, as they cause mental pain and suffering not only to the target but also to the victim's relatives, who in most cases have no way to react."
As far as workplace bullying is concerned, it is reported that it is the repeated mobbing and psychological manipulation (gaslighting) in the workplace, terms that are attributed to workplace bullying, either by actions or by other methods that is done systematically and intentionally, usually from a position of power. They have incalculable consequences at all levels. "In most cases, such incidents remain hidden out of shame and feelings of self-incrimination of the victim."
Therefore, "both workplace intimidation and intimidation in the military need an effective repressive response and to this end it is proposed that the criminalization of such acts will be punished with a heavier penalty than the penalty provided for by the provisions of the Penal Code or other laws."
