08. There are people who are attacked through the internet, it is an issue that concerns us.
The Peace and Non-Violence Action at Pappas Mill brought together children in a circle of discussion, creation and reflection on the importance of peace in modern everyday life. During the reflection phase, the children were invited to speak in their own words about what peace means to them. They mentioned concepts such as:
- democracy ,
- the stance against dictatorship ,
- and freedom of speech .
The discussion opened up to their experiences with violence. They mentioned incidents both at school and in the neighborhood. However, through the dialogue, the group concluded that the issue that concerns them most today is online violence. One girl said:
"There are people who are being attacked through the internet, it is an issue that concerns us."
The team looked for ways to respond and support. As initial solutions they suggested:
- to search for videos and material against online violence from organizations dealing with the issue,
- publicly defend individuals who are attacked online,
- and, when they know about an incident, to report it and make it visible.
The discussion then delved into more specific protection tools. The children showed particular interest in the Prosecution of Cybercrime, learning that there are formal support and reporting procedures. The possibility of:
- to take screenshots of incidents of online violence,
- and be sent to the competent authorities.
This knowledge was empowering and comforting, as the children realized that they are not alone in the face of violence, even when it manifests itself digitally.
