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- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that I am here today at such an important event to present awards and commendations to the schools that excelled in the bullying prevention and management competition, a competition that we have been co-organizing for the last few years with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. The aim of this competition is to make a substantial contribution to the prevention and management of youth delinquency through information and awareness-raising for teachers, pupils, parents and the local community.
The participation of schools of all levels, pupils, teachers, parents and local communities as well as the large number of actions promoted in the framework of the competition are an indication that this institution has been embraced and is achieving its objectives.
The participation of schools of all levels, pupils, teachers, parents and local communities as well as the large number of actions promoted in the framework of the competition are an indication that this institution has been embraced and is achieving its objectives. We must therefore not only continue its implementation but also strengthen it.
A form of juvenile delinquency that we unfortunately often encounter in schools, but also in society in general, is bullying. Bullying is nationally and internationally defined as a form of violent and anti-social behaviour in which one person attacks and causes fear in another in a repetitive manner by systematically creating a threatening, insecure and humiliating environment for the victim.
Bullying forms dominant and imposing relationships between the perpetrator and the victim, who feels vulnerable and unable to respond. This behaviour has serious consequences for the psycho-emotional and cognitive development of the victims, often forcing them into submissive and isolating behaviour, while at the same time negatively affecting the proper functioning of a school unit.
Unfortunately, today bullying affects a significant percentage of children and adolescents in primary and secondary schools and in their social environment. The phenomenon of bullying and violence at school is complex. The interaction of psychological, family, social, cognitive and emotional factors contribute to its manifestation.
Unfortunately, in many cases parents are not able to realise that their child is a victim of bullying and to support them, either because they are unaware of the signs and/or causes, or because most victims are ashamed to report the incident. Let us not forget that identifying and accepting the existence of bullying and dealing with it early and effectively in the school environment is conducive to breaking the silence and supporting victims.
It is widely accepted that the most effective, but also the most difficult measure to address any social problem is prevention. School and the family have an important role to play in this effort as the most important socialising agents.
This competition aims to prevent and tackle bullying by raising awareness among all stakeholders. Preventing and combating juvenile delinquency and its various forms, such as bullying, is a top priority of both this Government and myself personally.
An important tool in this effort is the Children in Conflict Act, 2021, which aims to establish a child-friendly justice system and prevent juvenile delinquency.
This is an innovative law, which establishes new child-centred approaches and alternative ways of dealing with juveniles with delinquent behaviour, providing for new institutions and mainly extrajudicial procedures.
Criminal prosecution is the last resort in exceptional cases and detention is the last resort, which can be imposed by a special Children's Court only if the extrajudicial procedures and/or the alternative measures provided for in the Law in question do not succeed. The new Law establishes several new methods and institutions for the management of juvenile delinquency and our efforts to implement it more fully and effectively are ongoing.
I note that Children's Courts have already been established and Children's Magistrates have been appointed to hear cases against children in exceptional cases where criminal prosecution is promoted. A number of children are referred to de-criminalisation programmes, i.e. out-of-court programmes or therapeutic programmes, instead of being prosecuted. Several members of the Police, Social Welfare Officers, Legal Service Officers and Children's Magistrates have also been properly trained in the handling of juvenile offenders and the provisions of the Act.
I would like to close my greeting with my warm congratulations to all the students who participated in the competition with such zeal and enthusiasm, putting their own stamp on the common fight against bullying and youth delinquency in general.
I also feel the need to congratulate the school managements for their interest in participating in the competition and the teaching staff, whose role was decisive in the successful organisation of all the relevant activities.
Congratulations are also due to the Parents' Associations and the local communities that participated in them.
Finally, I address the children, expressing my confidence that you will pass on the knowledge and experience gained from your participation in this competition, helping to further raise awareness of such a serious issue among the student population, parents and the local community.
(MS/AF)
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