A/HRC/34/45 Ending the torment: tackling bullying from the schoolyard to cyberspace Protecting children from bullying is not just an ethical imperative or a laudable aim of public health or social policy; it is a question of human rights. Bullying is a hurtful and aggressive pattern of behaviour that is often part of a continuum, a torment that shapes children’s lives at different moments and in different settings, from the schoolyard to the neighbourhood and, increasingly, into the online world. Bullying has long been part of the social, community and school life of children. With the growing access to information and communications technologies and the wide use of smartphones by children and young people, online bullying — cyberbullying — has also become a source of concern. Spreading rumours, and posting false information, hurtful messages, embarrassing comments or photos, or being excluded from online networks can affect victims deeply. Anonymity may aggravate cyberbullying by encouraging young people to act in ways they would not in face-to-face interactions. In addition, cyberbullying can strike its victims at any time, and the harmful messages or materials can spread fast and far to an exponentially growing audience, multiplying the risks and its damaging impact. Bullying affects children at different stages of their development, severely undermining their health, emotional well-being and school performance. It is often associated with profound feelings of dread, loneliness and helplessness. Victims may suffer sleep disorders, headaches, stomach pain, poor appetite and fatigue as well as feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, shame and, at times, suicidal thoughts. The psychological and emotional scars that are left may persist into adult life. Bullies themselves are also affected, and are also more likely than their peers to be involved in anti-social and risky behaviour later on in life. Furthermore, bullying can affect the whole school community, creating a climate of suspicion and uncertainty that can cause children to remain silent or to become complicit out of fear. 12. It is imperative that we act with the urgency that the situation requires. Guided by the human rights imperative of freeing children from violence and by the evidence gathered in recent years, we must seize the historic opportunity offered by the 2030 Agenda. Investing in violence prevention, protecting children’s lives and futures and saving the resources of States will lead to a brighter future for all children. 5