As announced on the official website of the institution on 30 July 2025, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, Velislava Delcheva, has alerted national authorities to alarming reports received from UNICEF – Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee regarding alleged severe violence against children at the Social and Pedagogical Boarding School (SPI) “Hristo Botev” in the village of Varnentsi, Tutrakan Municipality.

The reports, gathered within the framework of projects implemented by these organisations, are based on interviews with children placed in the institution by court decision. Children and their parents described systematic and repeated violations of children’s rights, including allegations of physical, sexual, and psychological violence, forced hard labour, physical exhaustion as punishment, and restrictions on communication with the outside world.

The information, documented and submitted in writing to the Ombudsman, contains direct testimonies from the children themselves, pointing to serious violations allegedly committed by boarding school staff and other minors.

In response to these serious allegations, and in her capacity as National Preventive Mechanism, the Ombudsman conducted an unannounced inspection on 24 July this year at the facility housing minor boys in Varnentsi.

According to information released by the Directorate-General for Education (DGE), applications for the 2025 edition of the “Escola Sem Bullying | Escola Sem Violência” certification closed on 31 July 2025. The initiative recognises schools that implement structured plans to prevent and combat bullying and cyberbullying.

In the previous edition (2024), 417 school clusters and individual schools were awarded the certification, more than double the 208 certified in 2022. This reflects the growing commitment of educational communities to promoting safe and inclusive school environments.

The DGE confirmed that the list of schools certified in 2025 will be published on 6 November 2025, coinciding with the International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School. The announcement will be made on the official initiative website and through the DGE’s institutional channels.

This certification serves as public recognition for schools that say “no” to violence by adopting measures that promote respect, empathy and student well-being, reinforcing their educational responsibility in preventing school violence.

According to a statement published by the Portuguese Government on 8 July 2025, the ban on smartphones in schools up to Year 6 has led to a significant reduction in cases of bullying and indiscipline. The measure, approved by the Council of Ministers, is based on a study conducted by the Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies (PLANAPP).

The report revealed a 59% drop in bullying cases in lower secondary education and around 56% in upper secondary. There was also a reduction of over 57% in incidents of indiscipline and physical altercations. School leaders also reported increased social interaction during break times and greater use of school libraries and sports facilities.

The measure will come into force in the next academic year in all public and private schools up to Year 6. Exceptions are foreseen for students with health needs, difficulties in learning Portuguese, or specific educational circumstances. In such cases, the use of basic phones without internet access (“dumbphones”) may be authorised under supervision.

Some headteachers have expressed concern about the practical challenges of implementing the ban, particularly in schools covering multiple education levels. For these situations, a phased introduction is recommended, supported by awareness-raising activities targeting students and families.

On 20 May 2025, the 3^rd Transnational Meeting of the SAFE project took place at Dr Manuel Gomes de Almeida Secondary School, in Espinho, bringing together representatives from the four partner organisations: Academia WeFight and Agrupamento de Escolas Dr. Manuel Gomes de Almeida (Portugal), Georgi S. Rakovski Secondary School and Edmund Burke Secondary School (Bulgaria).

During the meeting, partners shared the progress made and presented the didactic and educational materials developed within the scope of the project, including activity sheets on bullying, educational games, awareness-raising videos, facilitation guides, and an e-book on children’s rights and abuse prevention.

These teaching and learning aids aim to support the implementation of the SAFE programme with children and young people, promoting safer, more aware and inclusive school environments.

The SAFE project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, continues to strengthen bullying prevention and the promotion of children’s rights in the participating communities.

As reported by the POSTAL do Algarve newspaper on 11 April 2025, Portugal’s Government Working Group on Bullying in Schools has revealed the results of a nationwide study highlighting concerning statistics: 6.1% of young people aged 11 to 18 have reported being victims of cyberbullying. In addition, 5.7% said they had witnessed similar incidents, while 0.8% admitted to having engaged in such behaviour online.

At a time when children and teenagers are using mobile phones and social media at increasingly younger ages, experts are warning of the risks associated with intense and unsupervised technology use. The study reinforces the urgency of educational and family policies that promote digital literacy, responsible use of technology, and above all, respect for others — both offline and online.

The impact of cyberbullying extends beyond verbal attacks or public humiliation on social media. The psychological consequences — including anxiety, isolation, depression, and low self-esteem — can be deep and long-lasting. It is therefore essential to strengthen the role of schools, families and digital platforms in prevention, early detection and effective intervention.

This alert adds to a growing number of warning signs related to youth violence, reinforcing the need for coordinated action by the State, educational communities and civil society. Creating safe digital environments is now a shared — and urgent — responsibility.

As reported by SIC Notícias on 29 March 2025, Olympic champion Nelson Évora has released a children’s book entitled Uma Medalha Mágica (A Magic Medal), aimed at raising awareness of bullying and childhood obesity, while promoting healthy lifestyles through sport.

During the book launch, Nelson Évora shared that the story was inspired by real-life experiences, with characters based on people who influenced his journey. The educational project, developed in partnership with the company Betweien, is designed for pre-school and primary school pupils, addressing topics such as diversity, fair play, solidarity and inclusion.

The initiative was presented at a school event attended by over 100 children and the Mayor of Odivelas. The occasion underscored the importance of promoting values like respect and empathy from an early age, using sport and healthy eating as tools to combat bullying and obesity among children.

As reported by SIC Notícias on 28 March 2025, the Child Support Institute (IAC) has warned of an increase in violent behaviour among young people, attributing the trend to a lack of clear boundaries and rules in education. The organisation points out that the absence of guidance and excessive permissiveness have contributed to a rise in violence among youth.

According to the IAC, it is crucial that parents, educators and society at large establish clear limits and promote values such as respect, empathy and responsibility. The organisation emphasises that education for citizenship and the strengthening of socio-emotional skills is vital to preventing aggressive behaviour and fostering healthy relationships between young people.

This warning comes at a time when reports of peer violence are multiplying — in schools, public spaces, and across digital platforms. The IAC is calling for the implementation of effective public policies and for the mobilisation of the whole community to address this pressing social challenge.

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Prompted by public debate sparked by a newly released Netflix mini-series, school leadership teams and parents’ associations in Portugal are calling for more effective measures to prevent bullying and violence among young people. As reported by RTP on 25 March 2025, concern is growing following a series of physical and psychological assaults in schools, some of which have gained significant media attention.

The educational community highlights the need to strengthen both prevention and early intervention. The absence of swift and effective responses can exacerbate conflict and perpetuate aggressive behaviour among students. Parents and teachers advocate for an integrated approach that involves not only schools, but also families and social support services.

Experts continue to stress the importance of implementing emotional education and citizenship programmes from the earliest stages of schooling. Promoting values such as respect, empathy and tolerance is seen as essential to creating safer and more inclusive learning environments. Furthermore, continuous training for teachers and school staff is crucial to enable them to identify and appropriately address cases of bullying.

This joint appeal by schools and families seeks to raise awareness among authorities of the urgent need for stronger, more effective public policies to combat violence in schools. The message is clear: every child and young person must be able to grow and learn in safety, free from fear and discrimination.

Every year, the last Wednesday of February is recognised as Anti-Bullying Day in Schools, also known as Pink Shirt Day. On this day, participants wear pink to symbolise their stance against bullying and promote a culture of respect and kindness in schools.

The initiative originated in Canada in 2007, when two ninth-grade students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, stood up for a classmate who had been ridiculed and humiliated for wearing a pink polo shirt. The following day, they bought and distributed 50 pink t-shirts to show their support.

Today, by wearing a pink shirt, t-shirt or even a pink ribbon, people send a powerful message of non-violence, solidarity, and intolerance towards aggression and rudeness in relationships – especially among young people.

In countries such as Bulgaria, this day has gained significant traction over the years, being widely promoted in schools and organisations through awareness-raising activities and active participation from the educational community.

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On 31 January 2025, the second transnational meeting of the SAFE project took place at the Radisson Hotel Plovdiv, Bulgaria, bringing together representatives from the four partner organisations: Academia WeFight and Agrupamento de Escolas Dr. Manuel Gomes de Almeida (Portugal), Georgi S. Rakovski Secondary School and Edmund Burke Secondary School (Bulgaria).

During the meeting, the SAFE psychoeducational sport programme to tackle bullying was presented, having already been consolidated with stakeholder feedback, and the planning of the next stage was completed: the production of teaching and learning aids. These materials will include activity sheets on bullying, an interactive educational game, awareness-raising videos, and an e-book on children’s rights and abuse prevention.

Through the SAFE project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, we continue to contribute to reducing bullying in the participating communities.