Understanding and Addressing Bullying: : an International Perspective Prevnet Series, Volume 1

Publisher Marketing: PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network) brings together leading researchers, community organizations, industry and government, funded by the Networks of Centres of Excellence. Launched in 2006, PREVNet's mission is to stop bullying and promote safe and healthy relationships for all Canadian children and youth. Led by Dr. Wendy Craig of Queen's University and Dr. Debra Pepler of York University, this national network provides an unprecedented opportunity for social innovation and social-cultural change. In this first volume of the PREVNet Series, we enlist the support of international colleagues to highlight the nature of bullying problems and strategies to address them. In June 2007, a group of international researchers met in Kandersteg, Switzerland to develop a declaration, pledging long-term commitment to prevent bullying and promote healthy relationships. Many of these international scholars have contributed their freshest research findings to this first volume of the PREVNet Series. Their chapters provide understanding and guidance to help the reader respond to the Kandersteg Declaration's call to action: "Today, an estimated 200 million children and youth around the world are being abused by their peers. Every child and youth has the right to be respected and safe. Bullying is a violation of this basic human right. It is the moral responsibility of adults to ensure these rights are honoured and that healthy development and citizenship are promoted." It is essential to: . Stop bullying in all the places where children and youth live, learn, and play. . Start prevention efforts early and continue these through childhood and adolescence, targeting known risk and protective factors and promoting healthy relationships. . Educate and empower all adults involved with children and youth to promote healthy relationships and prevent bullying. (Kandersteg Declaration, 2007) Contributor Bio:  Pepler, Debra J Debra J. Pepler is a distinguished research professor of psychology at York University and a senior associate scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children. Her research is on aggression and victimization among children and adolescents. With Wendy Craig, she leads a national network, PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network), to promote safe and healthy relationships for all Canadian children and youth (www.prevnet.ca). Contributor Bio:  Craig, WendyPeter K. Smith is Professor of Psychology and Head of the Unit for School and Family Studies at Goldsmith's College, University of London. He is co-author of the leading textbook 'Understanding Children's Development' (Third Edition, Blackwell Publishers, 1998), among many other books and articles. Craig H. Hart (Ph. D., Purdue University, 1987)is Professor and Chair of the Marriage, Family, and Human Development department at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. He has co-authored 50 scientific papers and three edited volumes on children's social development and early childhood education practices. He is associate editor of Early Childhood Research Quarterly.