“For decades, school bullying has been considered by many to be a normal part of childhood, a “rite of passage” that can help to “toughen kids up” or “build character”. At the same time, common sense, often borne out of personal experience, highlighted that that being rejected, shunned, ostracized, or abused caused profound harm to targets. Bullying victimization, defined as a systematic abuse of power, affects 30% of children and adolescents worldwide. Although bullying interferes with all aspects of functioning, it has a notable negative impact on physical and mental health and academic achievement. In fact, longitudinal studies point to a causal relation between exposure to bullying and subsequent adjustment problems in these areas. Given the costs to victims, the reduction of bullying is an urgent global priority. School systems, worldwide, must protect children and adolescents from this insidious, pervasive issue, which derails potential.”