Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Member for Mid-Ulster, Sandra Overend, has welcomed Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum’s Anti-Bullying Week, running from 19 – 23 November 2012.

 Speaking about the campaign, Ulster Unionist Party Spokesperson for Children and Young People, Sandra said,

 “Far too many of our young people are being faced with being bullied because of the colour of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation or disability and many other things. It is extremely important that we make it clear to everyone that bullying is never ever acceptable.”

 “I very much welcome Anti-Bullying Week, which is being run by NIABF in over 600 schools in Northern Ireland, with the aim of informing children and teachers about bullying and the impact that it has on the victims. They aim to highlight the anti-bullying messages around the theme of “Everybody is Somebody”.

 “We must work hard to drive bullying out of our schools, our homes and beyond. It is important to remember that bullying is no longer confined to the playground, but is also increasingly being found on the internet, and via instant messaging.  Cyber bullying is on the rise as more and more children come into possession of mobile phones, electronic devices and laptops with which they can access Facebook and other social media, often anonymously."

 As UUP Spokesperson for Children and Young People, Sandra indicated her particular interest in internet safety and child protection. Following a series of Assembly Questions to government departments in Northern Ireland, she met with OFMDFM Junior Ministers to suggest the Ministerial subgroup on children and young people adopt a more proactive co-ordinating role in this area of child protection.

 Sandra continued,

 "Following a recent meeting that I requested with the Junior Ministers Jonathan Bell MLA and Jennifer Mc Cann MLA, I welcomed their commitment to do everything possible to promote internet safety.

 "The meeting examined the co-ordination of internet safety and how OFMDFM could add value to what is already happening across government departments and at Westminster. It was agreed by the Junior Ministers that internet safety would be tabled as a cross cutting issue at the Delivering Social Change Inter-ministerial Group and that OFMDFM would look at a gapping exercise in terms of what is happening in Northern Ireland. It was hoped that a number of awareness raising actions could be taken forward for young people and their parents in particular about the dangers posed by sexting.

 “Protecting children on line and supporting parents to keep their children safe in the virtual world is a key issue that should be to the top of all our priorities. I am pleased that Ministers agreed that this is the case and that we can work together to take this is forward”.

  Sandra concluded,

“To eradicate bullying will require a concerted and co-ordinated effort from parents, teachers and students, in conjunction with cross-departmental government action. Anti-Bullying campaigns like this one go a long way to highlighting the problem and I am therefore very much in support of it.”