Sharjah Youth Parliament to discuss bullying and its causes

Sharjah Youth and Sajaya Young Ladies (SYL) of Sharjah – affiliates of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators – will organise a youth session titled “Bullying... Causes and Effects” on Thursday.

The discussion will be held at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre (JRCC), and convene 80 members of Sharjah Youth Parliament’s 7th edition.

The discussion aims to offer the UAE’s youth a platform to express their views on this serious issue.

Participants will bring to light its main causes and forms, which many of them have either personally experienced or seen through close quarters.

They will also be discussing the direct impact of bullying on the victims’ academic performance, and lifelong psychological consequences for some individuals. 

A portion of the session will be dedicated to deliberating on precautionary and preventive measures to limit the practice of bullying, especially in schools.

The session will, therefore, be fundamental to bringing young men and women together to work towards identifying a pressing social issue and find solutions for utilising their shared experiences and aspirations.

The session will host Mohammed Ahmed Al Mulla, Secretary General of the Sharjah Education Council; Afaf Al Marri, Director of Sharjah Social Services Department; and Tahir Ahmed Al Mehrazi, Head of Learners Affairs Department at Sharjah Special Education Authority.

Sharjah Youth, affiliate of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, focuses on creativity, innovation and shaping of young talents aged 13-18.

It has been offering them continuous care, creating an attractive environment for them to practise their hobbies and acquire skills through the entity’s eight centers in different regions of Sharjah.

Also, it works towards helping the Emirati youth develop their national identity by understanding, imbibing and upholding the UAE’s values.

Sharjah Youth was established in 2004 following an Emiri decree issued by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

SYL Sharjah is a leading organisation dedicated to developing the talents of young ladies in the age group of 13-18 years in all creative spheres.

Established in 2004 under the umbrella of Sharjah Children’s Centres, it became an independent entity in 2012 following an administrative decree from Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation.

The Parliament consists of 80 young male and female members aged between 13 and 16 years old, who are elected from members of Sharjah Youth and Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, as well as all youth-facing institutions in the Emirate of Sharjah.

A candidate’s membership lasts for two years. The aim of the Parliament is to train young people on the best use of language and meaningful dialogue, and how to express their wishes and needs in accordance with Shoora principles.

The Parliament also aims to contribute to the formation of the core nucleus for future parliamentary councils, and to prepare this nation’s youth to be eloquent representatives of the country at international events.

Unesco’s report, Behind the numbers: ending school violence and bullying, released earlier this year at the Education World Forum in London, revealed that nearly one-in-three boys and girls have been bullied at least once at school over the last month, and a similar proportion have been affected by physical violence.

Overall, said the report, physical bullying is the biggest problem in most regions, but in North America and Europe, psychological bullying is the most common, followed by sexually-related bullying.

Physical bullying is more common among boys, while psychological bullying is more prevalent among girls.

Meanwhile, online and mobile phone bullying is on the rise.

Children perceived as different in any way from the norm, are the most likely to be bullied, with physical appearance being the most common cause followed by race, nationality or skin colour.