National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence – 18 March 2022
Kindness is not a random act but a full-time commitment. It is respect for others and their inherent dignity.
While the focus of the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is schools, in reality it should be for all of us.
To end Bullying and Violence we need to invest in preventing Bullying and Violence. One way to do this is to invest in effective delivery of respectful relationships education in schools, in workplaces and in professional education.
There is no one solution to the problem, but internationally, respectful relationships education is regarded as one of the most effective prevention strategies. Teaching people respect, equity, fairness and kindness is crucial to creating a world where violence has no space to exist.
When we educate the young, they learn what is appropriate behaviour – and this will stay with them throughout their lives. When we educate the young, they influence their families and peers.
The Maternal Health Matters movement has been campaigning for years for respectful maternity care to eliminate disrespect, abuse and violence in maternity care. Respectful relationships education will support our efforts.
The theme for 2022 is Kindness Culture.
Kindness is particularly relevant today. With all the uncertainty that exists right now it’s worth remembering that no matter the circumstances kindness and compassion will never be superfluous.
When we are kind, support and validate others, their innate strength is enhanced. We need to:
- Recognize the inspirational power of kindness – being kind can inspire greater results, better ideas, foster peace and improve relationships.
- Encourage kind behaviour – as the benefits of kindness are greater for the giver than the receiver. When you are a kind person, you’re not only helping others, but you are helping yourself too.
- Make kindness a prerequisite for success. Emotionally intelligent people understand that kindness isn’t about being soft or weak, but rather connecting deeply with people by genuinely caring about them and the world we inhabit.
- Practice random acts of kindness – it has a ripple effect, and the kindness spreads both ways; the effects are often contagious.