
ArmInfo.Armenia is planning to establish a formal procedure for identifying, protecting, and supporting children who have been subjected to bullying. This initiative was announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which has published a draft bill on the e-draft.am portal for normative legal acts.
The primary objective of the bill is to create clear, transparent, and predictable mechanisms for the timely identification of bullying victims, ensuring their protection and the provision of necessary support. The proposed regulations will apply to child care and protection centers, educational institutions (including preschool and extracurricular facilities), sports and cultural organizations, as well as justice system agencies responsible for enforcing criminal penalties or measures.
"Since bullying is considered a form of violence against children, it is proposed to identify such cases in several ways: daily monitoring of interpersonal communication by teachers, support staff, and psychologists to detect sudden behavioral or emotional shifts; the introduction of 'trust boxes' and online platforms for anonymous reporting; the use of specially designed interviews to identify children who are isolated or targets of systematic harassment; and the cultivation of an atmosphere of trust where a child feels safe approaching a psychologist, teacher, or team coordinator to share their own experiences or report potential bullying against another child," the source states.
The draft law can be found at the following link: https://e-draft.am/ru/projects/10408.