Applying Safe Behaviours: Preventing and responding to peer violence

What is the course about?

Unfortunately, around the world, children and young people sometimes harm each other. This is called peer on peer violence. It might take the form of teasing, bullying, intimidation, or even physical and sexual abuse.

In order to support children and young people affected by peer on peer violence, SOS Children’s Villages has created this FREE short course, forming part of the ‘Applying Safe Behaviours: Preventing and Responding to Peer Violence’ project. This project is taking place in Belgium, France, Italy, Romania and Spain.

The content of this course was developed using information kindly provided by children and young people from these countries who shared their ideas about peer on peer violence.

What will you learn?

You will explore some of the reasons children and young people think peer on peer violence happens and what they would like adults to consider when supporting children and young people who have been affected by it.

You will find out about:

what peer on peer violence is
where peer on peer violence happens
what makes children and young people vulnerable to peer on peer violence
the importance of understanding children and young people’s behaviour when they have been affected by violence and how they want adults to support them
what children and young people think would help prevent and protect them from peer on peer violence.

This information will help us all in our responsibility to care for and protect the children we know.

What is the target audience?

Whether you are a parent or other caregiver, someone working in a profession that has a responsibility for the care, support and protection of children, or perhaps you are someone else with a general interest in the topic, this course is here for you.

Course length

It should take no more than 65 minutes to complete. You can do it at your own pace, meaning you can stop and start at any time. When you complete the course you will be able to download a free course certificate.

Course instructors

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Chrissie Gale

Dr. Chrissie Gale has a career spanning more than 30 years in which she continues to promote child rights with specific reference to child protection and alternative care in an international context.

She has worked in many different regions of the world combining her professional expertise in the employ of international bodies and organisations such as UNICEF, UNHCR, UNWRA, Save the Children and Oxfam with an academic career. This included the provision of technical support to governments, UN and non-governmental bodies in the understanding and application of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the development of national child protection systems.

Until recently, Dr Gale led the international work for the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS) in the University of Strathclyde during which she has managed a global portfolio of child protection programmes and knowledge exchange opportunities. She remains affiliated to the University as a Senior Honorary Research Fellow as well as a Lecturer at the ASH University in Berlin. Her knowledge and expertise on child protection has resulted in invitations to provide expert input into international UN working groups and other advisory bodies influencing and helping direct international policy and legislation. She has also spoken at numerous international conferences.