BOY TERRIBLY BEATEN AT SCHOOL: Admitted to the Health Center with head injuries, peers filmed everything!

A 14-year-old boy was admitted to a Health Center near Belgrade yesterday with head injuries, and the story very quickly began to unravel. He ended up at the doctor’s for the worst possible reason—his “friends.”

As Telegraf.rs unofficially learns, he was brutally beaten in elementary school, and this violence is even worse considering that while the boy endured it, the whole thing was filmed with a camera.

To make matters even worse, the eighth-grade student said that one of the boys filmed the entire unfortunate event with a phone while two others beat him.

The competent prosecutor’s office, specifically the juvenile department, as well as the Center for Social Work in Belgrade, have been informed about the case.

The boy, along with his parents, was referred to the Institute for Mother and Child in Belgrade.

Unofficially, he has head injuries sustained from the blows.

After receiving medical attention, the boy was released for home treatment.

Peer Violence

Peer violence is a serious problem that involves any intentional, repeated, and harmful behavior directed towards a peer who cannot easily defend themselves, due to an unequal power dynamic.

Basic Characteristics of Peer Violence

For a behavior to be considered peer violence, it usually must meet the following key elements:

Intentional harm: The goal is to inflict psychological or physical pain on another person, or to damage their reputation or property.

Repetition: The violent behavior is repeated over a certain period of time.

Unequal power dynamic: The victim is weaker or in a subordinate position in relation to the perpetrator/s of the violence, and thus cannot easily defend themselves.

Types of Peer Violence

Peer violence appears in various forms:

Physical violence: The most obvious form, includes hitting, pushing, hair pulling, snatching, or destroying belongings.

Verbal violence: Insulting, humiliating, mocking, ridiculing, slandering, calling derogatory names.

Social/Emotional violence: Gossiping, spreading lies or rumors, deliberately excluding (isolating) from society or activities, ignoring.

Economic violence: Extorting or stealing money and/or belongings.

Sexual violence: Unwanted touching, offensive comments related to someone’s sexuality, coercing into a sexual act.

Electronic, digital, or “Cyber” violence (Cyberbullying): Violence carried out via the internet and digital technologies (social media, applications, messages), such as attacks, threats, belittling, misuse of photos and video recordings.

Consequences of Peer Violence

Victims of peer violence may experience severe psychological and physical consequences, including:

Anxiety, depression, irritability.

Loss of self-confidence and low self-esteem.

Withdrawal, social avoidance, non-participation in activities.

Sleep and appetite problems, somatic complaints (headaches, stomach aches without a medical cause).

Decline in school performance, school avoidance.

In the most severe cases, thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Prevention and Action

Preventing and resolving peer violence requires the involvement of parents, the school, and the wider community.

What parents can do:

Open communication: Create an atmosphere where the child feels safe to tell you what is happening to them. Listen calmly and without judgment.

Support: If the child is a victim, reassure them that it is not their fault and that you will help them.

Cooperation with the school: Talk to the teacher/homeroom teacher and the professional service (psychologist, pedagogue). Inquire about the Protocol for Action in Cases of Violence at the school.

Role model and self-confidence: Be a positive role model in behavior and help the child build self-confidence through activities they enjoy.

If you notice any changes in your child’s behavior, mood, or school performance, do not ignore it. Seek support!