We're joining the Big March - are you?

Beatbullying is calling for people around the world to support The Big March 2012 [1], which will take place on March 1st 2012: from Manchester to Mumbai, from Naples to New Orleans, from Jerusalem to Johannesburg, and from Budapest to Brasilia.

Predicted to last at least 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) [2]. 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 [3] 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.

Emma-Jane Cross, CEO of Beatbullying, reminds us why this campaign is so important:

“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.

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.”

You can make a difference by signing up, and marching alongside thousands of others on the world’s first global virtual march at www.beatbullying.org/bigmarch [1]