Bullying and cyberbullying are growing problems in educational settings around the world, with significant consequences for the mental health, academic performance and holistic development of students. In the Mediterranean region, characterized by its cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic diversity, a particular approach that considers these complexities is required. In both bullying and harassment, the consequences include emotional, social and educational problems for those who suffer it, and a normalization of violence in school settings when it is not adequately addressed. Organizations such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe have emphasized the need for educational policies that promote safe, inclusive and violence-free school environments. This requires the development of comprehensive strategies that combine prevention, intervention and monitoring, as well as a human rights approach.

The research presented in this study responds to the project: PreMedBullying: Preventing Bullying in Primary Schools at the Mediterranean Region. Erasmus+ KA220-SCH-44D611A0. The objective of the project is to create a safe school environment and culture enhancing life-skills where phenomena of school aggression, bullying and hostility will not have place. The final goal is to generate and pilot a framework for primary schools in five Mediterranean countries: Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The paper describes the initial a phase of the project with a comparative review of international frameworks on regulating violence and bullying in schools. And concludes with a conceptual framework on transforming schools into spaces of well-being, inclusion, and commitment to a more peaceful future.

Keywords: Education, cyberbullying, students, primary schools, prevention.