Letter from The Director for Education OECD, Barry McGaw, and The Norwegian Minister of Education and Research, Øystein Djupedal

Our personal hope is that this network can support people around the world in their effort to combat the scourge of school bullying and violence, which causes so much damage to the lives of vulnerable children and young people. All children and young people should have a right to a safe learning environment. Only continuous efforts can create a school environment where bullying and violence in schools do not exist. A safe learning environment is a prerequisite for learning and personal development among children and young people.

In recent years, policy makers, educators, other professionals, parents and other adults who interact with children and young people understand the seriousness of bullying and violence in schools.

The aim of The International Network on School Bullying and Violence is to stimulate and support more effective measures against school bullying and violence. So far 21 countries participate in this network; Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, The Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom. The network is part of the 2005 - 6 OECD Programme of Work. Norway is responsible for international co-ordination of the project.

The purpose of this website is to disseminate information and to organize communication between countries on important issues within the area of school bullying and violence.

We are both launching this website as part of a joint effort by the OECD, Norway and participant countries. The ambition is that this site should gain reputation as a main reference on policy, practice and research for national and local authorities, schools as well as researchers.