New York, NY, June 4, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was honored by a prestigious online safety and education group for its efforts to combat cyberbullying.  A growing threat that affects millions of U.S. teens, cyberbullying is defined as intentional harm inflicted through electronic media.

ADL received the "Stop Cyberbullying Excellence and Awareness Award" during the International Stop Cyberbullying Conference in New York City.  The conference was sponsored by Wired Safety, a leading online safety, education, and help group founded and run by Parry Aftab, renowned Internet privacy and security lawyer and expert on cybercrime.

"While the Digital Age has ushered in unprecedented improvements in the speed and ease of communications, it has also introduced new mediums for hate and bullying," said Scott Hirschfeld, ADL's Director of Curriculum, who accepted the award on the League's behalf.  "ADL's national anti-cyberbullying training and curricular programs are dedicated to helping young people learn how to respond to this threat, and help parents and educators teach children to use technology safely and responsibly."

"We are proud to recognize ADL's tireless efforts to combat cyberbullying and educate about its dangers," said Ms. Aftab in presenting the award.  "The challenges of these issues are overwhelming and the only way we can address them is by addressing them together."

The International Stop Cyberbullying Conference brought together representatives from government, education, law enforcement, media and technology companies to educate about the dangers of cyberbullying and help spur appropriate action around the issue.

In November 2007, ADL launched a nationwide educational initiative to help counter cyberbullying and to protect children from harassing behavior and hate on the Internet.  The League's anti-bias education staff engages with parents, teachers and young people in schools and communities about the real-world problems that can start with simple text messages in the online, virtual world.

The League's Cyberbullying: Understanding and Addressing Online Cruelty curriculum was designed by ADL's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute to increase awareness about the problem and to provide educators with the tools to empower young people to respond productively to online bullying, social aggression, and hate.

ADL's Trickery, Trolling and Threats: Understanding and Addressing Cyberbullying is a training for middle and high school educators, administrators and student support personnel that increases awareness about the unique features and impact of cyberbullying, provides strategies for educators to respond effectively to cyberbullying, and fosters an increased culture of e-safety among youth.