Children's Ombudswoman wants to make bullying a criminal offense

The launch of the investigation ‘Out of the game. Recognizing and addressing the exclusion of children!’ states that 10 percent of children—350,000 children per year—are bullied. Although bullying often takes place at school, it also occurs at sports clubs, in the neighborhood, online and at internship placements. Bullying usually takes place between children, but there are also cases in which adults bully children.

The launch of the investigation also addresses the consequences bullying can have. Children no longer want to go to school, have less self-confidence, become depressed and anxious, and sometimes even suicidal. Yet society and politics do not seem to have an effective approach to bullying.

The investigation that is now being launched will examine bullying between children as well as cases in which adults bully children through their conduct or treatment of them. The researchers also want to learn more about the reasons why children are bullied.

The aim of the investigation is to develop an adequate approach to bullying—for all children and in all forms—in order to reduce its impact on their lives and increase their development opportunities. The investigation is not limited to bullying at school, but will also examine bullying during leisure activities, in the online world and at internship placements.

The investigation was launched on September 24, 2021. Children who have been or are being bullied can complete an online questionnaire until October 17, 2021. The researchers will also approach some children for an in-depth interview. More information can be found on the Children's Ombudsman's website. Read here an extensive interview that AD conducted with Margrite Kalverboer.

In that interview, Kalverboer also raises the option of criminal prosecution: “Perhaps anti-bullying protocols are not enough and we need to move toward making it a criminal offense.” In several U.S. states and in Belgium, bullying has indeed been made a criminal offense as a form of ‘stalking’.

The interview and the launch of the investigation are being published on the eve of Anti-Bullying Week organized by Stichting School & Veiligheid, which will be held from September 27 through October 1.