Armenia moves to establish child bullying protection rules

The Armenian government has drafted a decision that would establish formal procedures for identifying, protecting and supporting children who experience bullying.

The proposal, now open for public debate on the e-draft.am platform, seeks to create clear and predictable mechanisms to ensure timely intervention. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs said the measure is aimed at safeguarding children through transparent processes and providing necessary assistance.

If adopted, the rules would apply across childcare and protection centers, schools and preschools, extracurricular institutions, sports and cultural organizations, as well as justice system bodies that oversee penalties or criminal measures.

Bullying, defined as a form of violence against children, would be addressed through several measures:

• Daily monitoring of children’s interactions, behavior changes and emotional well‑being by educators and psychologists.

• Anonymous reporting via “trust boxes” or online platforms.

• Structured interviews conducted by teams to identify isolated or targeted children.

• Safe environment initiatives encouraging children to confide in teachers, psychologists or coordinators about their own experiences or those of peers.