School bullying is a scourge affecting millions of children and teenagers worldwide. In Italy, the situation is particularly worrying, with one in two children affected by bullying, and a high-risk age group between 11 and 17. Faced with this challenge, Italy has taken proactive steps by publishing the UNI/PdR 42:2018 standard, which establishes criteria and requirements for preventing and combating bullying in schools. This initiative could well serve as a model for global action.
The UNI/PdR 42:2018 standard, drawn up thanks to the collaboration of organizations such as ACCREDIA, UNI, FIDAE, ISRE and MOIGE, is a document available in Italian and English, designed to be applicable at both national and international level. It proposes an anti-bullying management system that all educational establishments are encouraged to adopt, including training centers, boarding schools and leisure centers frequented by minors.
The Italian approach is innovative in that it enables schools to receive "anti-bullying" certification from an accredited body, provided they can demonstrate compliance with the standard's requirements. This certification is based on the UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 standard, and represents a world first in the field of anti-bullying certification.
The importance of this standard lies in its holistic approach, which is not limited to the implementation of policies and procedures, but also includes the analysis of the causes of harassment and the study of tools to combat it effectively. Schools must draw up an action plan with measurable objectives, such as reducing the number of harassment complaints or increasing participation in awareness-raising activities.
The development of the UNI/PdR 42:2018 standard is an example of how technology can be placed at the service of humanity, putting the individual at the center of concerns. This approach is all the more relevant as bullying is not an isolated problem in Italy, but a global crisis that requires a coordinated response.
Italy, as a pioneer in the process of accredited anti-harassment certification, offers a precedent for other countries to follow. The translation of the standard into English is a step towards facilitating its adoption on an international scale, enabling other nations to benefit from the Italian experience.
As harassment and cyberstalking continue to grow globally, initiatives such as UNI/PdR 42:2018 are essential to provide frameworks and best practices. It is imperative that international educational communities take note of these developments and consider similar measures to protect children and young people, ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment for all.
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