Cyberbullying, Human rights and bystanders Cyberbullying and human rights
Everyone has the right to be respected, safe and free from violence, harassment and bullying. A life free from violence and from cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment is a fundamental human right.[16] Bullying and harassment can also lead to violations of a range of other human rights. These rights include:
- The highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.[17] Bullying can impact negatively on your physical and mental health causing harm in the form of physical injuries, stress-related illnesses, depression and other health issues.
- Work and fair working conditions.[18] Bullying can lead to higher absenteeism from the workplace, poor or reduced performance and an unsafe working environment.
- Freedom of expression and to hold opinions without interference.[19] Bullying can impact on your freedom to express feelings or opinions as you no longer feel safe to do so.
- A child or young person’s right to leisure and play.[20] Bullying often occurs where children and young people play and socialise such as in school playgrounds and on social networking sites. All children have the right to participate in leisure activities in a safe environment. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its report on Australia’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, raised concerns about bullying and the importance of protecting children and young people from exposure to violence, racism and pornography through mobile phones and other technologies, including the internet.[21]
- The right to education because it can make you feel unsafe and unwelcome at school and impact on how well you do.[22]
- The right to be free from violence whether mental, emotional or physical.[23
- While the rights above are not a comprehensive list, they indicate the range of rights that can be violated by bullying.
Just as all people are entitled to enjoy all human rights, they also have responsibilities to respect the rights of others.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls on every individual in society to promote respect for human rights and freedoms.[24] This is because bullying is everyone’s problem. Key human rights treaties also note that individuals have duties to one another and to their community, and have a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of human rights.[25]
Taking a human rights approach to tackling bullying allows us to identify and address the harm to a victim’s rights and encourage all of us to respect the rights of others.
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https://bullying.humanrights.gov.au/cyberbullying-human-rights-and-bystanders-0
