School bullying: MEPs look into a new crime to fight against the phenomenon

A new way to fight against this scourge?

This Wednesday, the deputies seize a bill against school bullying, a phenomenon against which the public authorities intend to strengthen their response, through a text co-signed by the three groups of the majority (LREM, Modem and Agir) .

Almost one in ten students would be affected each year by school bullying which can push the victim to end his life, as evidenced by several recent dramas that have moved the public such as the suicide of young Dinah, in the Haut -Rhin in October. This phenomenon is old but has been clearly aggravated by the development of new information and communication technologies - in particular social networks - which often pass under the radar of parents and adults.

While a number of initiatives have been carried out in recent years, including the creation of emergency aid numbers, Emmanuel Macron announced, on the occasion of the day against school bullying on November 18, the creation of an application to help victims, strengthening parental control or increasing the number of places where young people can listen.

VIDEO.

Macron announces new measures against school bullying

The bill addresses the issues of prevention, initial or continuing training for adults to prevent and deal with cases of harassment.

But it is the penal aspect of the text that will hold attention with its flagship measure: the creation of a specific offense of school harassment - this was until then punishable under other counts including moral harassment.

Prison sentences and heavy fines

Bullying will be punishable by three years' imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros when it causes total incapacity for work (ITT) less than or equal to eight days, or even if it has not resulted in ITT.

The measure is hardened if the ITT exceeds 8 days, and may even reach ten years' imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 euros when the facts have led the victim to commit suicide or to attempt to do so.

The author of the text, Erwan Balanant (MoDem), highlights the “educational value” of the new offense and denies “doing anything repressive”.

“The idea is to engage the whole of society,” he explains.

The provision could however prevent a unanimous vote in the hemicycle, where 130 amendments are on the menu - the Breton deputy would have liked a consensus.

The Socialist Party, in particular, warned against a law "of emotion".

"We are not in favor of the criminalization of minors and an increase in repression," lamented Michèle Victory (PS) during the examination in committee.

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"We could have created an aggravating circumstance" for the offense of moral harassment, recognized Erwan Balanant.

But the new "precise criminal qualification" will also, according to him, force digital platforms to integrate the obligation to moderate the content of bullying.

The deputy, who had already amended the bill on "school of confidence" in 2019 to include the issue of harassment, also broadens with his text the right to "schooling without school harassment" to private institutions and to higher education.

The bill recognizes "the fact that school bullying is not only between students" but can also be - more rare - the act of an adult, notes Erwan Balanant.

LR deputies applaud with both hands a bill which “represents an expected development”, according to Emmanuelle Anthoine.

Communist MP Elsa Faucillon pleaded for the bill to reimburse the costs related to medical and psychological support for victims and those responsible for harassment.