Independent Body To Help Prevent Harassment At Schools

Reykjavík City Council has decided to allocate an independent body to respond to harassment and bullying at schools in Reykjavík.

RÚV reports that city council came together yesterday to discuss harassment at schools and how this could be prevented. This meeting was initiated by events that happened in the beginning of May.

In order to help prevent and reduce harassment in schools, city council says it is necessary to have an independent body for students who do not feel supported by the school. This body will receives tips and leads from students about bullying going on in their schools, and will also launch prevention campaigns that fight bullying.

According to RÚV, police are about to close the case of a teenaged girl who was assaulted by four other girls about two weeks ago. The attack was captured on video and spread widely across social media.

The father of the girl in question criticised the lack of guidance the school offered before it got this far. Austurbæjarskóli principal Kristín Jóhannesdóttir issued a statement to the press at the time, saying in part, “We will not allow bullying at our school and we encourage parents to stay in touch with either us or the psychologists that are willing to help us and our students.”