ABC will be marking International Day against Violence and Bullying at School including Cyberbullying for the years to come. Following its proposal at the 207th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in October, by France, Mexico and Morocco, “the need to genuinely address the root causes of violence and promote a culture of respect for students’ rights and of zero tolerance to violence”, was a major theme at this year’s session.
UNESCO have stated that: “UNESCO Member States have declared the first Thursday of November of every year, the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School Including Cyberbullying, recognising that school-related violence in all its forms is an infringement of children and adolescents’ rights to education and to health and well-being. It calls for the strengthening of partnerships and initiatives that accelerate progress to prevent and eliminate violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying.”
UNESCO have noted that “addressing school violence and bullying is essential in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies”.
In 2019, the World Anti Bullying Forum (#WABF2019) was held in Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, and was attended by some of the world’s most influential scholars, social networks, online security companies, educators and practitioners who promote antibullying in all of its forms. At WABF2019, UNESCO launched their global report: “Behind the numbers: ending school violence and bullying” noting the pervasive prevalence and impact of bullying and cyberbullying in schools across the world.
The 207th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in October was attended by ABC’s Prof. James O’ Higgins Norman and Dr. Seline Keating in Paris. ABC strongly welcomes global initiatives like “International Day against Violence and Bullying at School including Cyberbullying” to eradicate bullying and cyberbullying in schools. Read the UNESCO article for more information here.
