Anti-Bullying Week runs from Monday 16th November until Friday 20th November 2009.  The theme this year is Cyber Bullying – Stay Safe in Cyber Space.

Earlier, MP Ed Balls Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Schools Minister Vernon Coaker, helped launch Anti-Bullying Week 2009 at events with the Anti-Bullying Alliance, with hip hop artists N-Dubz who officially launched an inspiring anthem ‘RU Cyber Safe’.

The next phase of the ‘laugh at it, you’re part of it’ cyber-bullying campaign continues next week with online adverts and new mobile phone clips. The adverts will highlight how easy it is for young people to accidentally become part of the problem by forwarding on emails, pictures and video clips without thinking of the impact it can have on the victim. The campaign will run with the backing of top commercial partners like Google, T-Mobile, o2, Bebo and YouTube, who will be supporting the campaign through online activity and free downloads.

Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls
commented:

‘When I was at school we all knew that bullying happened, but it was not really talked about. Too often it was treated like a normal part of school life.

‘Things are so different today – and so much better. Bullying is talked about openly, and teachers and young people in schools across the country are working hard to stamp it out.

‘But even as we are driving the bullies out of our classrooms and playgrounds, they are finding new and even more cowardly ways to attack their victims, through text messages, emails and hateful comments on networking sites.

It’s really important that young people can use new technology and the internet to learn, have fun and stay in touch with their friends. But we also know that mobile phones and computers can be used to taunt and bully young people, which can have devastating consequences. I want parents to feel confident coming forward and reporting bullying incidents to schools, as we know this helps to stop bullying continuing.

 Schools, parents, young people and technology providers all need to work together to tackle cyberbullying, and I’m really pleased that we are working closely with the ABA to ensure this happens. Through our cyberbullying campaign we will continue the push to help stamp it out for good.

I was pleased to kick off this year’s Anti-Bullying Week – with N-Dubz as they release their new single ‘RU Cyber Safe’.

N-Dubz are great ambassadors for CyberMentors – a fantastic website which helps young people support each other through mentoring. This shows once again that if all young people come together and show their solidarity against bullies, we can make bullying a thing of the past.

MOBO AWARD winning hip hop artists N-Dubz officially launched an inspiring anthem for the charity Beatbullying.

The song, which features Number 1 stars N-Dubz and was co-written with young people, is called RU Cyber Safe and was heard for the first time at Maida Vale Studios this morning to kick off Anti-Bullying Week (16-21 Nov). The songs lyrics are based on the real feelings and experiences of young people who have worked with the UKs leading bullying prevention charity Beatbullying.  The theme of this years Anti-Bullying Week is staying safe in cyberspace so RU Cyber Safe is now available as a free download on the http://cybermentors.org.uk website.

Speaking at the launch event for Anti-Bullying Week, Schools Minister Vernon Coaker, said:

“I’m delighted to be able to launch this year’s Anti-Bullying Week. Bullying, in any form, should not be tolerated. It can destroy lives and have a lasting impact on young people’s confidence, self-esteem and emotional development.

“We know that bullying has evolved to take advantage of new technologies, particularly mobile phones and the internet. Young people need to be aware of the negative consequences of their actions and the impact their behaviour has on their peers. That’s why our cyberbullying campaign is continuing this year, with new film clips and online activity designed to reach young people and make them aware of the consequences of their actions.“

Emma Jane Cross, CEO of Beatbullying, says;

‘Beatbullying is incredibly grateful to N-Dubz and the DCSF for helping us kick start a meaningful and effective Anti-Bullying Week. We’re all confident ‘R U Cyber Safe’ will be this year’s Beatbullying ‘must-have’, along with our iconic blue wristbands. Together, we can all beat bullying.’

You can read more about the campaign in Ed Balls interview with the Daily Mirror. More information on the launch and the research published today can be found on the DCSF website. Information on Anti-Bullying Week 2009 can also be found on the Anti-Bullying Alliance website