TOKYO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Friday enacted a law against bullying at elementary, junior high and senior high schools as increasing serious cases of bully have occurred in the country, according to local media.
The bill, which has already passed by the more powerful lower house, was voted for by the ruling coalition and other opposition parties at a plenary session in the upper house, reported Japan's Kyodo News.
The new law stipulates that bullying that caused serious physical and mental damage to victimized children or forces them to be absent for long time is defined as constituting a "serious case".
Under the law, the schools are required to report the confirmed serious cases to the education ministry and local government, while investigation panel should be set up under the schools and education boards to investigate details and provide sufficient information to the victims.
The law also requires the local and central governments to monitor closely the online bullying and cooperate with police if bullying activities is considered criminal.
In October 2011, a second-grade student at a junior high school in Otsu, capital city of Shiga prefecture, committed suicide after being severely bullied.
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