- Target:
- Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia
- Region:
- Australia
- Website:
- www.news.com.au
Bullying is one of the greatest dangers children in Australia face.
AT LEAST ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN ARE BULLIED AT SCHOOL
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In our culture, bullying is stigmatized so that Children often feel ashamed to seek help or even tell anyone they are being bullied, for fear of being a burden on families and communities.
As a result the issue goes unrecognized.
Children's voices are not loud enough to demand their own basic rights. Which include:
The right to be free from physical or mental harm, and to receive an education which enables them to reach their potential, and prepares them for life in a free society (from the UN Charter).
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BULLYING RUINS LIVES. It has been the cause of countless suicides. Shown in the photo above, Sheniz Erkan is a girl who died as a result of cyber-bullying in January this year.
Bullying ruins mental health.
Children who are bullied are three times more likely to develop depressive symptoms and NINE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.
Victims of bullying are more likely to develop psychotic symptoms in early adolescence and young people who bully others are four times more likely to have a criminal record by the age of 30.
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Bullying has devastating affects on the welfare of individuals. It inhibits their developing identity and contribution to society.
Please help raise awareness of this issue, and spread the word through facebook, email or any means you can.
We, the undersigned, call on the Department of Education and Child Development in South Australia to stop Bullying in schools and the devastating effect it has on young lives.
Please grant policies for better education for children in relating well to others and basic empathy. Appropriate consequences for bullies should be compulsory, and reporting of bullying should also be compulsory.
Bullying is not a minor offense and as a result we request that bullies who repeat offend should be given compulsory counseling to enable them to deal with others compassionately and to protect children who may become victims.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Save Lives, Stop Bullying in Australian Schools petition to Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia was written by Jade and is in the category Children's Rights at GoPetition.