Authorities emphasize the importance of reporting incidents and talking to parents, teachers, or trusted adults. Do not remain silent about this issue; guidance, protocols, and action programs are available to help.
August 11, 2025
In the last year, the Global Organization for the Prevention of Bullying reported a 15% increase in cases of school bullying compared to 2024. Of those reports, more than 70% involve severe physical and psychological violence, explains Víctor Alejandro Smoly, director of the NGO.
Among the most concerning cases, according to Smoly, is that of a 12-year-old girl who stabbed a classmate with a pencil in North Panama; a girl who attempted suicide inside her school in West Panama; and a student who was tied up and beaten in the school bathroom in Chiriquí. “Today, bullying does not stop at recess; it follows the victim on social media, at home, and in their mind, 24 hours a day. The level of cruelty is rising at an alarming rate,” says Smoly.
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