14 November 2011
The Big March 2012 calls upon the United Nations to explicitly enshrine 'bullying' in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
To mark the start of Anti-Bullying Week 2012, Beatbullying is mobilising hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world, together with celebrities, politicians, charities, businesses and communities to launch The Big March 2012, the world's first global virtual march for children's rights.
Beatbullying is calling for people around the world to support The Big March 2012, which will take place on January 31st 2012: from Manchester to Mumbai, from Naples to New Orleans, from Jerusalem to Johannesburg, and from Budapest to Brasilia.
Predicted to last up to two days, the march will culminate with the delivery of a petition to the United Nations Building in New York; asking the United Nations to explicitly enshrine 'bullying' in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This will help to protect children all over the world from the pain and distress of bullying and harassment. If successful, it will be the first time that the Convention has been updated in over 10 years.
Governments and world leaders who have ratified the Convention are bound to it by international law and are therefore obliged to introduce and implement measures and legislation which serve to protect children. The addition of 'bullying' to the UNCRC will give weight and legitimacy to the demands of children, families, schools, and communities who want to build a world where bullying is unacceptable.
The Big March 2012, builds on the success of 2010's award-winning campaign that saw a million parents, teachers, young people, celebrities and MPs sign up to support the UK campaign. Beatbullying delivered a petition to a virtual 10 Downing Street, asking for the Government to protect children and young people from all forms of bullying and harassment. It resulted in an offline deputation with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, where Beatbullying delivered its recommendations.
With over 135,000 supporters already signed up to The Big March 2012, including celebrities as diverse as Twiggy, Sir Michael Parkinson, Jedward, top girl band The Saturdays as well as Beatbullying ambassadors Pixie Lott and Aston Merrygold, Beatbullying anticipates over two million avatars, all representing actual protesters, taking the world wide web by storm by the time the march commences in January.
UK brands and charities such as Nominet Trust, Barry M, Robinson Fruit Shoot, Orange and Girlguiding UK have already been joined by global organisations, including Facebook, Universal Music, Stardoll and Habbo, with Beatbullying anticipating the support of numerous more international brands, business and third sector groups to allow The Big March 2012 to make a stand on their websites next year.
Emma-Jane Cross, CEO of Beatbullying, said:
"Violence amongst young people across the world is at epidemic levels. We have a child protection crisis on our hands, and we have a duty as global citizens to unite and insist that world leaders, politicians, communities and families stand up and take action.
"Thousands of young people have taken their own lives as a direct result of being bullied. This must stop.
"I believe that every child has the right to a life that is safe, dignified and free from violence and bullying.
"We're asking for the support of parents, teachers, young people, businesses and communities from all corners of the globe on The Big March 2012.
"Together we can make a difference to children's rights with the largest globally connected digital take over the world has ever seen."
Aston Merrygold, Beatbullying ambassador, said:
"Making someone feel scared or threatened is disgusting but bullying happens the world over and it is wrong.
"I never thought I would be affected by bullying but I was, and as a Beatbullying ambassador I know how important it is that young people get the support available at CyberMentors.org.uk and know that they are not alone.
"Bullies mustn't get away with it. We need to make sure the world's children are safe from bullying and abuse, so this year I'm taking part in Beatbullying's The Big March 2012, to stop bullying around the world for good – join my avatar and march with thousands of others on the world's first global virtual march."
With more corporate, charity and celebrity partners set to be announced, organisations interested in partnering with The Big March 2012, can get involved by contacting the charity directly on 0208 771 3377/ hello@beatbullying.org, and those who want to create their own avatar to join the march on the 31st January 2012, can sign up at www.beatbullying.org/bigmarch.
-ENDS-
For more information, case studies, interview with a Beatbullying spokesperson or statistics please contact:
Frank PR – Lizzie Earl and Sarah Kershaw |Beatbullying@frankpr.it |0207 693 6999
Beatbullying - Sherry Adhami | sherry.adhami@beatbullying.org | 0781 400 4963
NOTES TO EDITORS
Big March partners include:
Universal Music
Facebook
Orange
Nominet Trust
Stardoll
Habbo
Robinson Fruit Shoot
Barry M
Girlguiding UK
MediaCom
M&C Saatchi
Frank PR
SavvyBear
Big March celebrity supporters include:
Aston Merrygold
Pixie Lott
Jedward
The Saturdays
Diversity
Alesha Dixon
Louis Walsh
Joe Calzaghe
Michael Parkinson
Twiggy
Jamie Rickers
Garry Robson
Cerrie Burnell
Dakota Blue Richards
Brooke Kinsella
Tanya Byron
Jade Thompson
Imogen Leaver
The Big March 2012 is the world's first virtual, global march for a child's right to be safe from bullying.
On the 31st of January 2012, millions of young people, children and their families will call upon the UN to enshrine explicitly in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
The right of every child to be safe from bullying, violence and the fear of violence by their peers as well as from abuse by adults
For the first time, charities and NGOs from all over the world will join together to create a global, digital movement demanding change, speaking for the first time with one voice.
For more information please visit www.beatbullying.org/bigmarch
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (abbreviated as UNCRC, CRC or CROC) is the first legally binding international rights treaty to address the entire spectrum of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social. It incorporates many of the basic human rights set out in the other five major human rights treaties, but in a way that recognises and provides for the specific needs, vulnerabilities and evolving capabilities of children and adolescents. (For the purposes of the Convention, a child is defined as anyone under18 years of age except where individual states recognise an earlier age of majority.)
Read more about The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child
Beatbullying is an award-winning children's charity that was established in 1999 to work with young people and create a world where bullying, violence and harassment are unacceptable. One-in-three children have experienced bullying and one-in-13 is bullied constantly. Beatbullying services is underpinned by expert youth workers and accredited counsellors all working together to provide intensive therapeutic intervention to young people, families, teachers communities, as well as working with those who bully to help change their behaviour. Beatbullying also campaigns in the areas of bullying and child-on-child violence to enable young people to transform their lives and the lives of their peers for the better.
Beatbullying runs bullying prevention programmes, on and offline, in schools and communities and have been proven to reduce bullying by 70% and the reporting of bullying by 60% in schools. Their work empowers young people to understand, recognise and say no to bullying, violence and harassment as well as educating parents, teachers and adults about bullying, early intervention and prevention.
Beatbullying is the three-times-winner of 'Charity of the Year' as well as winning awards for Best Communications Campaign and the Nominet Internet Award's 'Making the Internet Safer' award.
• Beatbullying is a registered charity no 1097631.
The award-winning CyberMentors.org.uk, launched in 2009, is the first secure peer mentoring social networking site of its kind run by young people, for young people, to offer real time intensive therapeutic intervention services to children with a host of different wellbeing issues, including those who have been being bullied or cyberbullied.
CyberMentors has seen over one and a half million visits since its launch and trained thousands of young people, aged 11-25, in schools and online so that they can offer support to their peers both on and offline. Those with more problematic issues can get the support of accredited counsellors anytime, anywhere. Encapsulated by cutting-edge child protection technology, including the child safety software Crisp Thinking, CyberMentors.org.uk is a secure website where young people can turn to other young people for help and advice.