UNC will host the 2023 World Anti-Bullying Forum, in the first time the event has been hosted outside of Europe. The forum will take place from October 25 through October 27.

The forum will be led by Dr. Dorothy Espelage, a faculty member and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education within the UNC School of Education. UNC describes Dr. Espelage as “a foremost expert on bullying and youth well-being,” with more than 25 years of research into the subject.

“We received some very strong bids from around the world, but Professor Espelage and her team have a unique capacity of organizing a forum where dialogue in bringing the bullying prevention field forward,” said Frida Warg, managing director of the forum.

“To host this kind of international event focused on making the world a better, safer place speaks to the stature of Dr. Espelage’s work to prevent bullying and school violence and to promote the well-being of students,” said Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, dean of the UNC School of Education. “It also speaks to the School of Education’s commitment to educating the whole child and to the field-leading research that happens on this campus.”

The WABF is held every two years, and has served as a meeting place for researchers, advocates, practitioners and policymakers from all over the world to work against bullying. It was launched in 2017 in accordance with the United Nations. Sweden hosted the event in 2017 and 2021, and Ireland hosted it in 2019. Espelage spoke at the 2017 and 2021 forums.

“As we begin to recover from several years of isolation as result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is ever so important to create safe spaces in our schools, families and communities for youth to be situated in environments that are protective, supportive, equitable and free of bullying,” Espelage said.

While UNC is credited as the host of the event, the forum will be physically located at the Raleigh Convention Center. For more information about the event, click here.

 

Featured image via UNC-Chapel Hill/Johnny Andrews

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Jill Hamm Named Dean of UNC School of Education
Jill Hamm, who has been serving as the interim dean of the UNC School of Education since last May, was named the school’s permanent dean Friday by chancellor Lee Roberts and provost Chris Clemens. “During her interim tenure, Jill has been an exceptional leader,” read an email to the UNC community from Roberts and Clemens, […]
UNC School of Education Dean Fouad Abd-El-Khalick Leaving Position in July
Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, the dean of the UNC School of Education since 2016, will leave the position this summer to assume the role of Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, effective July 1. “The past eight years at Carolina and the School of Education have been a highlight […]
Focus Carolina: Jeffrey Greene
Tune in to Focus Carolina during morning, noon and evening drive times and on the weekends to hear stories from faculty members at UNC and find out what ignites their passion for their work. Focus Carolina is an exclusive program on 97.9 The Hill WCHL, sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Jeffrey […]
Higher Education, Part VIII: Funding
UNC's education dean says higher education needs more state funding. Can we achieve this by improving our understanding of what college is?
Overtime Winner Helps UNC Men's Lacrosse Escape No. 8 Virginia
Despite losing a four-goal lead in the final 5:28 of regulation, UNC found a winning goal in sudden-death overtime to beat No. 8 Virginia 16-15 in a thriller in Charlottesville Saturday. 🗣 HEELS WIN#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/Y9oX8zVRcf — UNC Men's Lacrosse (@UNCMensLacrosse) April 18, 2026 In a topsy-turvy game, the Tar Heels found themselves trailing […]
UNC Baseball Wins Series With Run-Rule Victory vs. No. 2 Georgia Tech
UNC just beat the No. 2 out of Georgia Tech. Owen Hull hit a second-inning grand slam to help spark the Diamond Heels to a 14-4 win against the second-ranked Yellow Jackets Saturday at Boshamer Stadium. The game ended after eight innings due to the 10-run rule. 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 🗣️ Heels run rule #️⃣2️⃣#GoHeels x […]
Tracking Which UNC Men's Basketball Players Have Entered the 2026 Transfer Portal
The NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal opened Tuesday, April 7, the day after the national championship game. Following UNC head coach Hubert Davis’ dismissal on March 24, several Tar Heels have entered their names into the portal and pursue other opportunities. Here’s a list of which players have either made announcements or are reported to […]
UNC Baseball Beats No. 2 Georgia Tech in 1st Game of High-Powered ACC Series
Home runs from Macon Winslow, Erik Paulsen and Colin Hynek helped the No. 3 Diamond Heels beat No. 2 Georgia Tech 5-2 in the first game of a critical three-game ACC series at Boshamer Stadium Friday night. The UNC win snaps the Yellow Jackets’ 13-game winning streak. 𝐖𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐂 😤#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/bk4eHjQjld — Carolina […]
UNC Women's Lacrosse Overcomes Early Deficit, Beats No. 19 Duke in Regular Season Finale
No. 1 UNC trailed 5-2 in the waning seconds of the first half but still beat No. 19 Duke going away Thursday night in Durham, winning 11-5 in the final game of the regular season. Carolina is inevitable 🐏 The Heels run off 8 straight goals and hold Duke scoreless in the second half to […]
UNC Women's Soccer to Play Exhibition Match August 28 in Ireland
More than one UNC football team will be making the journey to Ireland this August. The UNC women’s soccer team will play an exhibition match against Shelbourne FC Friday, August 28 in Dublin, the day before the Tar Heel football team faces TCU in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Luck of the Heels […]
›