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Staying Safe and Being Prepared
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Other countries think even bigger. Japan’s government has anti-bullying laws that cover the
entire country. The government learned about many students who had been bullied, including
about those who committed suicide to end the bullying. With that information in hand, govern-
ment officials decided to do something about bullying.
The Japanese
legislature
passed a law that says all schools must tell the government about
serious cases of bullying. Schools have to help make the bullying problem better.
The law also says local governments have to keep an eye out for cyberbullying, which happens
mostly outside of school. The government hopes the law will prevent more bullying and more
suicides.
AND MORE
Schools and governments aren’t the only ones trying to get rid of bullying. Groups around the
world are trying to stamp out the problem of bullying, too.
In Boston, Massachusetts, the Sports Museum has teamed up with athletes from the city’s
sports teams to end bullying. The museum’s anti-bullying program is called Boston vs. Bullies.
The Boston vs. Bullies website has a video with lots of athletes taking a stand against bullying. The
video has athletes from the Boston Red Sox, the Celtics, the Patriots, and more. The program also
has information for teachers and parents about bullying,
Internationally, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) started a program to fight bullying specifically of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender
) people.
UNESCO organized a meeting of people from all over the world in 2011 to discuss LGBT bul-
lying. They talked about how common it is and the harm it does. They discussed ways to end the
bullying of LGBT people in schools. Attendees also talked about how UNESCO and others could
stop bullying. People learned a lot, and UNESCO published a booklet and made some videos to
teach others.
Bullying Hotline Numbers
Countries around the world have a phone number young people can call to get help with bullying.
Trained people answer the phones and let victims know the next steps to take.
In Australia: Kids Helpline, 1800-55-1800
In Canada: Kids Help Phone, 800-668-6868
In the United Kingdom: Bullying UK, 0808-800-2222
In the United States: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255)