Monaco Launches Initiative to Counter School Bullying with Multi-Agency Support

In a bid to tackle the pervasive issue of school bullying, Monaco has launched the "Protect Yourself Against Harassment in Schools" initiative, a collaborative project between the Women World Leaders Monaco (FLMM) and the Association for Assistance to Victims of Criminal Offences (AVIP), supported by Monaco’s Directorate of National Education, Youth and Sports, and the Department of the Interior. The initiative, timed with the National Day Against Harassment in Schools, involved nearly 100 middle and high school students from across Monaco throughout November, utilizing art to foster awareness, prevention, and emotional healing.

The artistic component of the program was spearheaded by four distinguished artists—INESSA, Patrick Moya, MR OneTeas, and BELI—who conducted workshops at Collège François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré, Collège Charles III, Lycée Albert Ier, and Lycée Rainier III. These sessions offered students a platform to explore and express their experiences with bullying through various art forms, including mask-making, murals, and other artworks that conveyed messages of resilience, community, and acceptance. The emphasis on empathy and solidarity during these workshops highlighted the crucial role of collective effort in combating bullying.

The success of these workshops garnered praise from Monaco's Minister of State, Didier Guillaume, who lauded the initiative as a "virtuous circle of education and collaboration." The artworks created during these sessions will be permanently displayed in the participating schools, serving as ongoing reminders of the importance of respect and solidarity. Additionally, an art book featuring the frescoes and narratives from Monaco’s Pen Club will soon be published, aiming to extend the initiative's reach and reinforce its core messages to a wider audience.