President Isaac Herzog’s office launched a nationwide initiative Thursday to combat social exclusion and bullying among children and teenagers, amid a concerning rise in the number of young people affected by the phenomenon.
As part of the initiative, the President’s Residence established a national forum bringing together government ministries, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, civil society groups and representatives of the business sector.
Herzog described the situation as “a real state of emergency” and called on the public not to stand by while children and teenagers suffer from bullying or social exclusion.
“The troubling rise in the number of children and teenagers suffering from exclusion and bullying is a real state of emergency,” Herzog said. “I call on everyone in Israel to take part in the national campaign against bullying and social exclusion among children and youth.”
“This is a reality that requires all of us to act together and draw a clear red line,” he continued. “We must not ignore it. This is the time to intervene for the good. It is everyone’s responsibility.”
The forum will coordinate joint efforts against bullying and social exclusion while working to change the public discourse and social norms surrounding the issue.
The campaign is being launched nationwide and will appear in shopping centers, movie theaters, delivery companies, tourism networks and local authorities. A parallel social media campaign will feature public figures and influencers.
For the first time, the President’s Residence has also launched a dedicated website called “It’s On Us,” which provides information, guidance and contact details for assistance centers dealing with bullying and social exclusion.
Officials said the initiative is intended to encourage parents, children and the public to identify cases of bullying and social exclusion and refuse to ignore them.
The campaign emphasizes that responsibility for intervening does not rest only on the child who is being targeted or the child’s family, but on the entire surrounding community.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
