Bullying
young people have already been subjected to bullying
(Online survey conducted by the Audirep institute in May 2025 for
The e-Enfance/3018 Association with the support of the Caisse d'Epargne)
The e-Enfance / 3018 Association has been the official partner of the French Ministry of Education in the fight against bullying in schools since 2011.
What is bullying?
The bullying in schools is a repeated violence (verbal, physical, social or psychological) that develops over time.
It implies a dominant relationship between one or more pupils and the victim.
Bullying at school is often based on rejection of difference : aAppearance, gender, sexual orientation, origin, disability or interests.
This violence has serious and lasting consequences For the victim: stress, anxiety, isolation, loss of confidence, sleep disorders, declining academic performance or refusal to attend school.
What does the law say?
Law No. 2022-299 of 2 March 2022 qualifies the bullying as a criminal offence. It refers to repeated acts (verbal, physical or psychological) that harm a pupil's living conditions and physical or mental health, committed by another pupil or by any person working or studying in the same establishment. The repetition may be individual or collective, concerted or successive.
The harassment, defined by Article 222-33-2-2 of the Criminal Code (Law No. 2014-873), covers all forms: school, professional or online. It consists of repeated acts causing deterioration in the victim's life and damage to their health, without the need to prove intent to cause harm.
Main sanctions :
Simple harassment: 1 year in prison and a €15,000 fine; ;
Aggravated harassment (minor, online, collective, by a member of the educational community): 2 to 3 years' imprisonment and a fine of €30,000 to €45,000; ;
Bullying resulting in incapacity > 8 days: 5 years and €75,000; ;
Harassment leading to suicide or attempted suicide: 10 years and €150,000.
The laws No. 2018-703, No. 2021-478 and No. 2022-299 have strengthened the recognition of collective harassment, cyberbullying and school bullying, as well as the accumulation of aggravating circumstances.
Schools must prevent and report incidents, implement educational and disciplinary measures, and appoint a harassment officer.
How should you respond to bullying at school?
For break the cycle of bullying, It is essential to act quickly.
If you are a victim of bullying:
- Do not remain alone; speak to a trusted adult. : parent, teacher, school counsellor, school nurse or psychologist. This is the first step towards breaking out of isolation.
- Preserve evidence : messages, screenshots, photos or videos, and does not edit them.
- Contact 3018 : free, anonymous and confidential service, available 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. by telephone, chat on the 3018 app or at 3018.fr.
The 3018 team can assist you with remove content, file a complaint if necessary, and provide you with a psychological and legal support.
What not to do:
Even though it may be tempting, do not try to resolve the issue through violence, as this would only make the situation worse.
If your child is being bullied:
- Listen to your child without judging them and take their confidences seriously.
- Look out for warning signs : isolation, refusal to attend school, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, decline in academic performance.
- Alert the school to organise appropriate care through the pHARe programme.
- Please call 3018: Professionals (psychologists, solicitors, and social workers) will listen to you and can assist you in protecting your child.
Good to know: thanks to its status as a trusted flagger, 3018 can quickly remove harmful accounts and content from social media, digital platforms and websites.
What not to do
Some parents are tempted to go and see the pupils responsible for the incident and “threaten” them. Do not attempt to resolve the situation yourself and do not use violence, as this could make matters worse.
If you witness
Your role is essential! Do not remain silent, as this may reinforce the sense of impunity among harassers.
- Talk to a trusted adult. or to the teaching staff.
- Support the victim A word, a message or a presence (even a discreet one) can break his isolation and give him courage.
- Never share Harassing content: by sharing it, you are contributing to the violence.
- Contact 3018: The team will be able to advise you.
3018, your ally against bullying
and digital violence
Operated by the e-Enfance Association / 3018, the 3018 is the national helpline number for young victims of cyberbullying and digital violence.
A team of professionals, including psychologists, lawyers and social workers, offers you:
- One psychological and legal support suitable.
- One accelerated reporting to platforms to have harmful online accounts and content removed.
- One sympathetic listening and one support in the procedures
Free, anonymous and confidential, 3018 is available 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., by telephone or chat via the 3018 app or at 3018.fr.
Acting together is possible
Bullying at school is not inevitable. By speaking up, acting quickly and mobilising existing resources, everyone can protect themselves and help others.
Violence among pupils, whether in the form of bullying, intimidation or any other manifestation, is a serious problem that affects pupils' well-being and can compromise their academic success.
As an organisation committed to combating bullying in schools, we highlight the importance of recognising and combating such behaviour.
Bullying creates a toxic environment that harms not only the victim, but also the entire school community. We encourage awareness, education and collective consciousness to create safe and respectful school environments where every student feels supported and protected.
To go further
Need assistance?
Bullying, cyberbullying, revenge porn, webcam blackmail, identity theft, school bullying, gender-based and sexual violence, exposure to violent and pornographic content, etc., and all issues related to usage (video games, parental controls, account settings, excessive screen time).
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