School Bullying and Violence: A Matter of Human Rights

In this chapter, consideration will be given to the matter of schools, schooling, and violence and bullying and its impact on mental and physical health in a global context. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly outlines a range of fundamental human rights for all young people. Underpinning the Convention is the right to pursue an education free from the threat of violence. The chapter will begin with a consideration of the issue of violence and bullying from a global perspective. Of necessity, this entails a systems wide view of the issue and to that end the chapter will turn to a consideration of the nature of systems. Argument is then made for a human rights perspective and for a consideration of the issue of violence and bullying from a human rights perspective. Joint Indian and Australian research will be used from schools in these two respective countries to illustrate the need to recognize the rights of young people to pursue an education in a safe and protected environment.