Diolch, Cadeirydd. Each year, every first Thursday of November is the International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School, including cyber bullying. Around 20 per cent of students report being bullied, but only half have reported incidents to an adult. Formal education can and should play a key role in providing children and young people with the knowledge and skills to identify online violence and protect themselves from its different forms, whether perpetrated by peers or adults.

Nowadays, violence goes beyond school walls and also takes place on screens, on which teenagers spend a daily average of seven hours chatting and posting on social media, but they're more exposed than ever online. Online violence, including cyber bullying, has a negative effect on academic achievement, mental health and the quality of life of students. Children who are frequently bullied are twice as likely to miss out on school, and have a higher tendency to leave formal education after finishing secondary school. 

This day calls on global awareness of the problem of online violence and cyber bullying, its consequences and the need to put an end to it. It calls on the attention of students, parents, members of the educational community, education authorities, and a range of sectors and partners, including the tech industry, to encourage everyone to take part in preventing online violence for the safety and well-being of children.