This report presents an analysis by the NZ Human Rights Commission's of school violence, bullying and abuse. The report examines whether and to what extent the rights to education and to personal security and the principles of natural justice are promoted and protected by legislation and applied in policies and practices dealing with the management of bullying, violence and abuse between students in school. The Commission's review of legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines revealed significant gaps. The Commission found that there is no mandatory requirement that the principal or board consider the impact of their decisions in bullying cases on the victim's attendance at school, nor do Ministry of Education guidelines stipulate that the victim's parents should be informed. In addition, interagency protocols and guidance dealing with child abuse provide little or no information about peer-to-peer bullying, violence or abuse. This leaves schools with no clear steer about when or how to involve Police or Child, Youth and Family. To ensure that bullying, abuse or violence between students at school is treated as seriously as incidents involving adults or those that happen outside of school, the Commission makes a number of recommendations directed to the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office.

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