Starting the second day of the Seminar on Church and Violence against Children and Women held by Multiplication of Stube HEMAT in Lampung (29/10/2022) participants learned about bullying as explained by Ariza Umami, S.H., M.H., a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Muhammadiyah University of Metro, Lampung.
According to Ariza, the term used is 'abuse' which means violence and persecution, wrong treatment to torture. Violence against children is intentional and dangerous behavior for children physically and psychologically. The impact of bullying is not only a day or two but can affect the whole life. Disliking something or someone is normal, but dislike is not expressed through bad behavior, and disturbing others, including bullying. Bullying can be in the form of verbal or physical behavior to annoy other weaker people, verbal teasing and calling names you do not like, pushing and hitting, rejection, and discrimination from the social environment. The perpetrator wants to control, dominate, and disrespect others, usually as revenge. Families that are not harmonious trigger bullying behavior. Even, it’s often carried out by their parents or those closest oneto them. Child abuse ranges from neglect to rape and murder.
Bullying has a negative impact not only on victims but also on perpetrators and those who witness it. Perpetrators will tend to be socially problematic and even criminal. Witnesses also experience unpleasant feelings and psychological pressure and have the potential to become victims and even perpetrators. So, you can imagine the complex long-term impact of bullying. Parents must be role models for their children and understand and protect them by not being silent when their children become perpetrators, victims, or witnesses of bullying.
As a material for vigilance, the resource person presented data on bullying cases, and violence against children and women in Lampung for the January-November 2021 period, and there were 542 cases and the highest cases were in Bandar Lampung City with 149 cases. Furthermore, Central Lampung regency had 113 cases, East Lampung with 44 cases, Tulangbawang 38 cases, Lampung Selatan 35 cases, Pringsewu 23 cases, and Pesawaran 21 cases. Then, Tanggamus 18 cases, Way Kanan with 18 cases, Metro 17 cases, North Lampung 16 cases, WestPesisir 16 cases, West Tulangbawang 16 cases, Mesuji 10 cases, and West Lampung 8 cases. She also reminded me that in 2022 there is a tendency for cases to increase.
In this session the participants asked if I see someone is being bullied and I report it, will I be punished? She answered, "No,because the status of a witness is protected by law. So do not be afraid to report bullying. Another question sayswhen a friend is doing a joke bymentioning the name of friend’s parents in the form of ridicule, whether it is also an act of violence.” She answered, "It depends on whether the victim feels andaccepts it or not. If he does not accept it, it can be considered as committing an act of violence."
The discussion equipped the teenage participants to know which actions or behaviors are bullying or not, and how to behave if bullying occurs around them by reporting these actions as a form of concern and an act of love to others. ***