- 21.05.2026 09:05
NO to bullying!
Is bullying a publicly reprehensible behavior? How can adults recognize the early warning signs and provide timely assistance to their children? What are the best practices for responding to bullying?
These and other questions were addressed by participants at a seminar and discussion on bullying prevention among young people, which took place on May 20 at Tula State University.
The event was organized by the Coordination Center for the Development of Active Civic Positions in Young People, the Prevention of Interethnic and Interfaith Conflicts, Countering the Ideology of Terrorism, and the Prevention of Extremism, at the initiative of the Office of the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Tula Region and the Anti-Bullying Public Movement.
Gathered around a large roundtable were representatives of the legislative and executive branches, educators, lawyers, and community activists—the very people who, by virtue of their work, directly interact with schoolchildren and students and work on their rehabilitation.
Welcoming the participants, Nikita Vasilyevich Nikitenko, Director of the Coordination Center, noted that the topic of today's meeting is not only important but also highly relevant. And when it arises in the information space, it usually does so after the fact—in a tragic and sad context. This is precisely why it is necessary to consolidate efforts to prevent bullying and develop unified methodological approaches.
Bullying, emphasized Natalya Alekseyevna Zykova, the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Tula Region, is an extremely negative phenomenon. We must face the truth and acknowledge that it most often occurs in educational institutions. Unfortunately, teachers cannot always distinguish bullying from conflict, and parents do not always respond to their children's complaints.
The problem of bullying, Natalya Alekseyevna continued, is not going unnoticed. The Russian Ministry of Education has developed methodological recommendations for its prevention. Tula Region Governor Dmitry Vyacheslavovich Milyaev is paying close attention to this issue.
At a recent working meeting with the regional governor, Natalya Alekseyevna reported, they discussed issues related to bullying prevention. Dmitry Vyacheslavovich instructed the organization of teacher training at the Corporate University.
Children themselves are also concerned about this issue. Members of the Children's Public Council regularly raise the topic of bullying.
We all need to be, figuratively speaking, in the same boat, and figure out which direction to take. And most importantly, we must never forget that the child must always be the center of attention.
Today's discussion, Nikita Vasilyevich Nikitenko added, is an opportunity to discuss the problem, find common ground for its solution in our region, and develop algorithms for joint action. It is crucial that everyone address this issue within their own areas of expertise.
Rashit Nailevich Adiatulin, a participant from Moscow and coordinator of the Anti-Bullying Public Movement, expressed an interesting and useful idea during the seminar. Parents, he argued, must be provided with a legal framework that allows them to effectively coordinate their actions.
Bullying, the participants unanimously agreed, is publicly reprehensible behavior. To solve the problem, it must be acknowledged, and to acknowledge it, it must be voiced. It is essential to foster intolerance toward this negative phenomenon and to address it promptly. The role of the older generation is enormous here.
The seminar participants agreed to organize a meeting with representatives of the Tula Region Ministry of Education to discuss areas of cooperation.
Tatyana Krikunkova
Photo by Mikhail Gindin
Photo report
