ASSESSMENT OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR CURBING BULLYING AMONGST CHILDREN IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Bullying is a form of delinquency that is a global phenomenon which threatens the enjoyment of fundamental rights of persons generally. It is an unwanted act largely targeted at a person perceived to be weaker or vulnerable; characterised by aggression, intentionality to repetitively cause another person injury or discomfort. The victims of bullying cuts across all age brackets, being either minors or adults. This article focused on the perpetration of bullying amongst children in Nigeria. Adopting a doctrinal approach to the study, the author observed based on reference to various scholarly works that bullying could be taking place in various human social groups; in the family, schools, play grounds, workplace etcetera., and could take the forms of physical assault, verbal insults, name calling or other subtle actions. The study further identified causative factors and effects of bullying on the rights of the child. The article highlighted the impact of bullying to include: post- trauma induced stress disorder (PTSD), poor cognitive ability, impairment of psychological and emotional development etcetera. It also underscored the essence of the study and the need to curb its perpetration amongst children; who by their nature are delicate and in need of care and guidance to shape them into fit and proper persons, for their own benefit and the society at large. This article adopted an analytical method in conceptualising bullying, discussing its causes, effects and assessed some available legal frameworks in Nigeria for child deterrence against bullying and found there provisions not to have neither envisaged nor being specifically directed towards curbing bullying. The article then recommended amongst other practical recommendations, the amendment of extant laws such as the Child Rights Act, 2003 and the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 which are substantive laws to make specific provision to define bullying, its elements and appropriate correctional measure to deter children from perpetrating bullying.