7-year-old bullied by students with teacher's approval

Mexico's Supreme Court ordered a private school on Friday to give $33,000 in compensation to a seven-year-old boy who was bullied by other students with a teacher's approval.

It was the first time that the court ruled on bullying, an issue that turned into national debate after a series of high-profile cases prompted President Enrique Pena Nieto to vow action last year.

The court said in a statement that its ruling establishes "specific recommendations for the government in order to identify, prevent and combat a phenomenon so harmful as bullying, at the national level."

Around 40 per cent of students reported being bullied in 2013, up from 30 per cent in 2011, according to the National Human Rights Commission.

The court said in a statement that it ruled against a school in the central State of Mexico "because one of its teachers incited the mistreatment" and for "negligence by the school for not taking any measures to prevent and combat the harassment."

The child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

"While this disorder cannot be clearly defined as a disability, children who suffer from it are in an especially vulnerable situation, which requires reinforced protective measures," the court said.

In a case that shocked Mexico, a 12-year-old boy died in May 2014 from injuries sustained in a beating by classmates in the northern state of Tamaulipas, prompting hundreds of people to demonstrate for justice.
 

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