The proposal was submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, in which the discussion of another more general anti bullying[/B] law proposal has already started.[/B]
According to a statement by the Parliamentary Presidency, the proposed law aims to criminalise specifically "school bullying", i.e. repeated and intentional cruel and abusive behaviour[/B] by a student who bullies another student in a school or other related place, for example a tutorial, summer school, etc.
The ultimate aim of the proposed law is to prevent such phenomena through the introduction of repressive as well as corrective measures for the student who engages in bullying. It should be noted that modern international terminology does not favour the use of the terms "victim" and "perpetrator", as they refer to minors.
The pupil, aged fourteen to eighteen years, is criminally responsible[/B] in accordance with the provisions of the criminal system of Cyprus concerning the criminal responsibility of minors.
Criminal liability will also be incurred by a "student spectator", as well as a person aged up to twenty one years for a similar act committed before the age of eighteen (18) years, since in practice, due to the age of the student, the recently passed law on friendly justice for children, namely the Children in Conflict with the Law of 2021, will apply.
The act included in the definition of "bullying" will be punishable by imprisonment up to twelve months or a fine up to 2,000 euros or both,[/B] provided that the act in question is not punishable by a heavier penalty under the Criminal Code or another law making it punishable.
As mentioned, following the recent enactment of the legislative framework for child-friendly justice (The Children in Conflict Act 2021), juvenile and bullying cases will be heard by children's courts established one in each province.
These courts shall have the power to impose other measures and penalties consistent with the age of the students, as well as such rehabilitative measures as are deemed appropriate in such cases in lieu of imprisonment.
Source: CNA
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