Legislation and public policies

Since the first efforts to systematically study children’s experiences of bullying and harassment, particularly in school settings, it is now recognized that bullying is a complex problem that takes a variety forms and occurs in multiple locations including on new communications platforms. For this reason, the benefits of a multi-facetted approach at the national level are widely advocated to ensure that individual actors, such as schools, are not left isolated in their efforts to combat a phenomenon that appears to grow ever more prevalent. National responses to complex social issues such as bullying are required to ensure a coherent, consistent and holistic approach and to optimize resources and expertise for the widest benefit. This chapter profiles the example of Ireland and in particular the work that contributed to the development of a national Action Plan on Bullying in 2013 as a case study to illustrate the challenges facing policy makers in responding to a major issue of public concern. The lessons learned from this and other equivalent examples point to the need for an overarching and comprehensive framework to sustain effective strategies in tackling and preventing bullying.

Related Subject(s): Children and Youth