The second Steering Committee meeting of the project "Prevent Bullying and Peer Violence in Schools" was held in Belgrade, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss ongoing efforts and future activities aimed at fostering safer school environments.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ministry of Education, the Institute for Improvement of Education, the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation, and the Institute for Mental Health.

Nadia Cuk, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, opened the meeting by emphasizing the importance of creating safe and inclusive learning environments. She highlighted that student well-being is crucial for their development, academic achievement, and future prospects.

Pawel Voronin, First Secretary and Head of the Culture and Press Division at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, elaborated on the project’s primary goals, stressing the need for collaboration and long-term commitment to tackling bullying and peer violence in schools.

Vesna Atanasova, Head of Unit in the Education Department at the Council of Europe, highlighted the importance of initiatives encouraging member states to integrate socio-emotional learning into their education systems. She advocated for a shift from punitive disciplinary measures to more supportive systems that promote empathy, respect, and conflict resolution.

Snezana Vukovic, Head of Department for Human and Minority Rights in Education at the Ministry of Education, commended the development of comprehensive policy strategies and effective measures to enhance student safety. She emphasized that these contributions will be a cornerstone of the project's impact.

Kristijan Rajkovic, Senior Project Officer, and Gordana Medenica, Project Officer from the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, presented an overview of the project’s progress and upcoming activities. They introduced the finalised methodology for Serbia’s first comprehensive national survey on peer violence, bullying, and student well-being, which is set to take place in December 2024. The survey will offer a systematic analysis of the factors affecting student well-being, as well as the various forms of violence, bullying, and their impact on mental and emotional health. It will also evaluate interventions designed to prevent and reduce violence while promoting student well-being and ensuring adequate support for children at risk or already exposed to such situations.

This Project is implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by Germany. It is implemented in co-operation with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Republic of Serbia from January 2024 to December 2025.