The Office of the Commissioner for Children, as part of the BeSmartOnline! Initiative, together with the Malta Union of Teachers launched an Information Note for Educators on Cyber Bullying. The aim of this information note is to create awareness about the effects of Cyber Bullying, how it can be prevented and what educators should do if their students or they themselves become victims of Cyber Bullying. The BeSmartOnline! initiative carried out by the Malta Communications Authority, Agenzija Appogg and the Office of the Commissioner for Children aims to create awareness on the safe use of the new technologies and also provides a helpline and a hotline where abuse can be reported.

Cyber Bullying for Educators is one in a series of four information notes with regards to the safe use of the internet. This Information Note will be disseminated amongst all educators as one of the initiatives being carried out to commemorate World Children’s Day and the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Throughout next week various activities are being carried out in order to commemorate this important event. An activity for children is being organised on the 18^th of November and will then be repeated on the 19^th of November in order to include as many children as possible. The theme for this activity will be that of creating an online-offline balance and will encourage children to use the internet in a way which is safe, to eat healthily and to do exercise. Various resources promoting the rights of children will also be disseminated amongst all children in Malta and Gozo.

During the Press Conference, MUT President Kevin Bonello stated that “it is very important that all educators become aware about the benefits, potential problems and issues which are possible online. We have seen cyber-bullying amongst students and also instances where educators can become victims of bullying at the hands of students or parents. Such an initiative amongst the various entities is positive and we hope that we can make educators think and consider their actions and act accordingly”.

A national conference on the positive use of the internet is also being organised on the 21^st and 22^nd of November. This conference is being organised by the Elearning Department and BeSmartOnline! in collaboration with the Malta Union of teachers. The first day will be targeting educators and the second day will be focusing on digital parenting. We would like to encourage parents to attend this conference. Children between the ages of 9 and 15 are also welcome and a programme for children will run simultaneously. For further information and to register for this conference please visit http://embed.skola.edu.

 

The Commissioner for Children showed her appreciation to the Malta Union of Teachers for their collaboration in the various initiatives as educators have an extremely important role in safeguarding children’s rights and in the promotion of their wellbeing.