Brazil addresses rising school violence and bullying

Rising levels of violence, harassment, and socio-emotional crises among children and adolescents have prompted new initiatives to foster peace within educational environments. In Brazil, the increasing prevalence of depression, anxiety, and self-harm in schools has highlighted the urgent need for conflict management methods, such as non-violent communication and mindfulness.

In Maceió, the Municipal Education Secretariat (Semed) launched an initiative following a poem written by a student at Escola Municipal Silvestre Péricles regarding the suffering caused by bullying. The program included a lecture for approximately 150 students and teachers at the OAB auditorium, focusing on bullying and cyberbullying. Led by Judge Marcell Menezes of the Alagoas Court of Justice, the initiative aims to educate students on the civil responsibilities associated with their actions and the consequences of virtual aggression.