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

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