That same year, United by Schools entered a new stage of its international development by submitting its application for Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The goal of this initiative was threefold:
- to propose new standards for preventing bullying and promoting positive school climates;
- to cooperate with governments and international organizations to strengthen global education policies;
- and to alert international authorities using the association’s field experience in France.
This application marked a strategic evolution in the association’s mission: United by Schools broadened its focus beyond bullying alone to address all forms of school violence, working toward the creation of peaceful, caring, and inclusive educational environments.
School bullying was thus redefined as one component of broader educational violence, itself central to the concept of school climate.
Obtaining Special Consultative Status would allow the association to:
- provide independent expertise grounded in its on-the-ground experience;
- participate in international conferences and deliver written or oral statements before UN bodies;
- contribute to the implementation of international agreements on education and human rights;
- raise global awareness and strengthen cooperation between NGOs and Member States.
This initiative confirmed the international vocation of United by Schools and its ambition to actively contribute to the United Nations’ educational goals — particularly those linked to peace, inclusion, and violence prevention.