A new programme against online bullying has been launched by the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police department, in partnership with child protection agency Child Focus.
Secondary school students in Brussels will be the primary targets of this initiative, designed to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of cyberbullying. The programme was jointly conceived with the Brussels and Ixelles municipalities.
Fifty police officers from the department, trained by Child Focus, will serve as ‘consultants’ in tackling cyber harassment. These officers will conduct workshops for Brussels students aged 11 to 15, at the request of French- and Dutch-language schools in Brussels and Ixelles.
Various issues connected with cyberbullying will be discussed in the workshops. Beyond understanding the consequences of online harassment, young people will also be taught about legal aspects and police follow-ups. Testimonies from experts and previous victims will enrich these sessions, providing students with tangible ways to combat these in-school issues.
An artistic aspect will also be integrated into the campaign. Several Brussels artists have been commisioned, including Francophone poet and slammer, Zohra. Dance school ‘La Family’ will assist in creating an awareness video, collaborating with the Brussels-Capital Ixelles police department’s communication unit, which is currently seeking Dutch speaking artists to participate in the project.
Child Focus General Manager Heidi De Pauw believes this initiative is “crucial” to break the silence surrounding cyberbullying. “We all have a responsibility, not just the perpetrators of this violence, but also the young people who witness it. By responding together, we need to show victims they are not alone,” she explains.
