France Initiates 600 Legal Actions Against School Bullying with New Measures

Between 2022 and 2024, the French government has taken significant judicial and disciplinary steps to combat school bullying. Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced on November 3 that approximately 600 criminal prosecutions have been launched, alongside more than 4,200 alternative penal sanctions designed to be appropriate for minors' ages. These alternative measures include prohibiting access to certain places or individuals and issuing warnings, offering a swift and proportional response.

Under the 2022 Balanant law, school harassment can be punished by up to three years in prison and fines of €45,000, even when total incapacity for work (ITT) is eight days or less or absent. The law underscores the gravity of bullying offenses. Additionally, several hundred students identified as perpetrators have been excluded from their schools to safeguard victims, allowing the victims to remain in their original schools. These exclusion protocols were implemented starting with the 2023-2024 school year.

A study by the e-Enfance association reveals that 37% of young people experience bullying or cyberbullying, a figure that remains steady across age groups—35% in primary schools and 40% in high schools. The majority of incidents (71%) take place within schools, with 17% occurring during extracurricular activities. Common motives for harassment include jealousy or envy (24%), physical differences (20%), and appearance differences (16%).

The issue has drawn urgent government attention following the suicide of 13-year-old Lindsay in Pas-de-Calais. Minister Geffray emphasized the importance of prevention, family dialogue, detection, and reporting of bullying, stating that the government’s response is now "very strong, including penal." This multifaceted approach aims to protect victims effectively and reduce bullying throughout France.