Blog

Bullying: two teenagers found guilty of murder

Monday 23rd November 2009

Two teenagers were found guilty of murdering another teenager last week. As I type this I realise how complaisant or de-sensitised I have become. I am deeply shocked by this story, but with the numbers of young teenagers reportedly stabbed, murdered and maimed on our streets, this headline is becoming a common occurrence. However this story is slightly different. Her two friends, Kemi and Hatice, reportedly bullied the teenager Rosimein Boxell, aged 17, to death. Rosimein’s parents told reporters that they have forgiven the girls, but according to the newspaper reports the girls have neither accepted responsibility for, nor admitted their part in this dreadful episode. Each of them blames the other.

Last week was Anti-Bullying Week. Not a week to celebrate bullying, but a recognition that thousands of young people are working to try and eradicate bullying in their schools, their homes, their neighbourhoods and their lives. Bullying is a consequence of powerlessness, of fear and bravado. Being a bully is often a sign that the bully has been bullied, and left unchecked will continue to bully well into adult life. Victims of bullies can suffer for a lifetime, and even to death. Victims are advised to speak to someone about it, and trust that something will be done to protect them.

Did Rosimein tell someone? Were Kemi and Hatice also victims? Did they ask for help?

Last week I visited one of the schools in Bradford we are working in where 20 young people are learning how to become peer mediators. These young people will join the 1000’s of others who are making a difference in the lives of others. The schools that have joined Leap and set up peer mediation projects report that this is making huge differences in the school, with students resolving low lying conflicts, significant increases in GCSE results and above average attendance. Our training gives young people the opportunity to reflect on what is right and wrong. They learn how to reflect on choices and consequences, and to admit when have done something wrong, without blaming others.

I am quite sure that we will never rid our society of bullying, however with more schools recognising the benefit of having peer mediators and conflict resolution specialists, it must impact on the availability on peer specialists who can listen and help. And maybe save a life of a bullied teenager, or a bully.

Peta Boucher, Leap Youth Programmes Director