IRELAND South MEP Sean Kelly is to host a national cyberbullying forum in Limerick on September 27 to raise awareness and inspire action to prevent online bullying.
The forum will be held in the Kilmurry Lodge from 9.30am to 12pm and is targeted at parents, school principals and teachers, youth groups, and community liaisons, as well as all those with an interest in the issue.
Mr Kelly commented: “Cyberbullying, or bullying by social media, is a problem of epidemic proportions affecting mostly young people. It is a very serious challenge for parents, teachers, mental health and youth/community workers. It has fuelled a national and Europe-wide debate on how to best to tackle the issue.”
The Fine Gael MEP, and former teacher, says educating people of all ages on the subject is vital.
He is currently campaigning for the introduction of an EU and national level anti-bullying campaign involving key stakeholders in education, government and commercial and youth sectors to eradicate bullying once and for all.
Mr Kelly concluded: “In very real and shocking terms, over 1,700 young Europeans are at risk of death by suicide this year due to bullying and cyberbullying according to research by a leading charity, Beat Bullying UK. Unfortunately, many tragic deaths of young people have already been linked to cyberbullying in Ireland already.”
