Better Internet for Kids

According to UNESCO, the international day calls upon Member States, UN partners, other relevant international and regional organisations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organisations, individuals, and other stakeholders to help promote, celebrate, and facilitate the international day. 

Background 

Member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have declared the first Thursday of November as the International day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying. 

The international day was established in 2019, and first celebrated in 2020. One of the reasons for the establishment of the international day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying was that violence and bullying at school, including cyberbullying, are unacceptable, cannot be tolerated, and should be combatted by all means. 

The UNESCO member states also recognised “the importance of international, regional, and bilateral multi-stakeholder partnerships and initiatives to strengthen action and accelerate progress to prevent and eliminate violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying.” 

Not on my watch: the role of teachers in preventing and addressing school violence 

During this edition of the international day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying, the focus is on the significant role of teachers in making school a safe space.  

That is why this year the official theme is ‘Not on my watch: the role of teachers in preventing and addressing school violence’ and partners and schools will mobilise around this year’s theme. Moreover, an international seminar will be hosted by UNESCO on 3 November 2022, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and online. 

"Although this violence is not limited to school premises, the education system has an important role to play in teaching students how to navigate safely in the digital sphere. Formal education should provide children and young people with certain knowledge and skills: how to behave with civility online, to develop coping mechanisms, to identify and report online violence and, most importantly, to protect themselves and others from different forms of cyberbullying, whether perpetrated by peers or adults", states Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director General. 

Better internet for kids and the international day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying 

Here on the Better Internet for Kids portal, we recognise the importance of addressing bullying at schools, and especially cyberbullying. Moreover, helplines consistently indicate cyberbullying as one of the most common issues reported among all the cases they regularly handle. Have a look at our articles and resources on the topic of cyberbullying and online violence: 

• KID_ACTIONS is a project that supports teachers, educators, and youth workers in fostering effectiveness and efficiency in education about risks and effects of cyberbullying. The project also means to foster a wider dialogue with stakeholders in education, in order to adopt a co-creative and evidence-based approach to prevent and counter cyberbullying through education. 
• On Tuesday 22 November, KID_ACTIONS is also organising a hybrid forum for stakeholders join forces together against cyberbullying. The nature of the Forum will be highly interactive, offering a platform where key stakeholders, such as policymakers, researchers, industry partners and practitioners can discuss together how to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberbullying. To learn more about the KID_ACTIONS Forum and book your spot to be part of this closing Forum of the KID_ACTIONS project, please visit at www.kidactions.eu/events.
• The new Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strategy, adopted in May this year, also focuses on making sure that children have safe digital experiences. The new strategy also mentions the need to provide support to those affected by cyberbullying, with the help of trained staff, through the harmonised number 116 111. Learn more about the BIK+ strategy. 
• Our network of Safer Internet Centres and helplines provide information, advice and assistance to children, youth and parents on how to deal with harmful conduct such as cyberbullying. Helplines can increasingly be accessed via a variety of means - telephone, email, web forms, Skype, and online chat services. To find contact details for your national helpline, check out the Safer Internet Centre profile page. 

Learn more about the international day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying on the website of UNESCO.