President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine has signed a draft law on the introduction of punishment by warning or fine for bullying (harassment, aggressive pursuit) during teaching and learning activities, which was earlier passed by the Verkhovna Rada.
A statement on the website of the Ukrainian parliament says draft lawl No. 8584 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Combating Bullying”, adopted at first reading on October 2, as a whole on December 18 and signed by the Speaker of Parliament on December 28, 2018, was returned signed by the head of state on January 16, 2019.
This law defines bullying (harassment) as an act of participants in the educational process, which may involve psychological, physical, economic, and sexual violence, including that with the use of electronic communication tools, which is carried out in relation to a minor or other participants in the educational process, resulting in the victim suffering psychological or physical damage.
The law supplements the Code of Administrative Offenses of Ukraine with Article 173-4 and imposes a penalty for bullying from 50 to 100 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens (from Hr 850 to Hr 1,700) or community service from 20 to 40 hours.
In addition, bullying committed by a group of persons or within a year after the imposition of an administrative penalty will be penalized with a fine totaling 100-200 non-taxable minimums (Hr 1,700 – Hr 3,400) or community service from 40 to 60 hours.
If the harassment against participants in the educational process is committed by an underage child or a minor aged 14-16 years, his parents will face a fine ranging from 50 to 100 non-taxable minimums (from Hr 850 to Hr 1,700).
And if a group of underage children or minors aged 14–16 years engages in bullying, their parents will be subjected to paying 100–200 non-taxable minimums (Hr 1,700 – Hr 3,400) in fines.
If the principal of the educational institution does not inform the police about the cases of bullying, he or she will face a fine of 50-100 non-taxable minimums (from Hr 850 to Hr 1,700) or community service for one month and 20 percent wage deduction.
The law will come into effect on the next day after its publication.
A non-taxable minimum in Ukraine is Hr 17.
The official NBU exchange rate on January 17, 2019 is Hr 28.0085/$1.
